Saturday, February 25
Fayetteville, AR
University of Georgia
vs
SEC Indoor Championships
Two Titles, School Record Highlight Final Day Of SEC T&F Meet
February 25, 2023 | Track & Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. --- Georgia track and field battled for fourth and sixth-place team finishes thanks in part to a pair of individual titles to wrap up the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships at the Randal Tyson Track Center Saturday.
Senior Elija Godwin put an exclamation mark on his final league indoor meet by winning his first individual conference crown with a school record 400-meter dash time for the 10th-ranked Georgia men. Godwin blasted the meet record with a 44.75, which situates him No. 5 on the all-time collegiate list with the world's fastest time this season.
Two races later, a Bulldog starting his career, freshman Will Sumner, left the track with Georgia's third men's 800m title and first since 2012 after taking control of the final on the final straightaway. The Canton, Ga., hung in the middle of the pack before surging into the top spot on the final straightaway and edged the nearest competitor by .39 seconds.
The 13th-ranked Lady Bulldogs received an eight-point jolt thanks to sophomore Elena Kulichenko exploding for a career best and runner-up finish in the high jump. The 2022 SEC Freshman Field Athlete of the Year is now ranked No. 2 on the country's performance list and No. 3 in the UGA record books after clearing 1.92 meters/6 feet, 3 ½ inches. Kulichenko also tied as the No. 18 all-time collegiate performer with her showing.
Kulichenko (women's high jump), Keshaun Black (men's 60m), Kaila Jackson and Autumn Wilson (60m and 200m), Johannes Erm (heptathlon), Godwin (men's 400m), Sumner (men's 800m), Kyle Garland (men's 60m hurdles), Matthew Boling (men's 200m), Ana da Silva (women's shot put), Titiana Marsh and Mikeisha Welcome (triple jump) and Boling, Caleb Cavanaugh, Sumner and Godwin (men's 4x400m relay) were Saturday's sscorers.
Scorers on Friday included: Nikolai van Huyssteen (men's pole vault), Ella Rush (pentathlon), Alencar Pereira (men's weight throw), Garland (men's long jump), Marsh (women's long jump).
Team Scores: The Arkansas women (130.5 points) captured the team title with Florida (82) and Kentucky (59.33) rounding out the top three. Georgia finished sixth with 53 points. On the men's side, Arkansas completed the sweep with 100.25 points and Florida (73) and Alabama (63) were second and third, respectively. The Bulldogs finished fourth with 59 points.
Where To Catch The SEC Championships: The ESPN broadcast talent includes Dwight Stones, Dan O'Brien, Larra Overton and John Anderson during the meet coverage.
Sunday (8-11:30pm) - SECN (re-air)
SECN+ LINK: http://gado.gs/a4j
Full Results: For results throughout the weekend, please visit: http://gado.gs/a3v
The Lowdown: Godwin had placed second and third in the 400m during his Bulldog career at SEC Indoors but he collected the ultimate prize in his final opportunity. The Covington, Ga., native ran out of the second group after the opening foursome setting the tone at 45.05. Godwin took control from the gun and left the late great Torrin Lawrence's school record of 45.03 in 2010 (also set on the Tyson track) and Kirani James' meet record of 44.80 from 2011 behind to deliver UGA its fourth SEC 400m title and first since 2012.
It had been since Aaron Evans completed his four laps in 1:48.22 in 2012 since a Bulldog had won a men's 800m crown until Sumner completed the feat on Saturday. Nestling into the middle of the field of eight, Sumner posted the fastest final 200m with a 26.34 to shoot past Florida's Sam Austin for the championship with his 1:48.28.
Two of the aforementioned Bulldog sprinters combined in one of the evening's final events to add another eight points to the total with a runner-up finish in the 4x400m relay. Boling set the tone with a 45.20 leg to start the relay. Following the 400s by Cavanaugh (46.47) and Sumner (46.83), Godwin shut the door on the Bulldogs' section with a 44.83, which was the second-fastest split of the relay. This comes a year after Georgia won the title in the event and this year's time replaces the No. 3 all-time finish in the record books.
Kulichenko, a native of Odintsovo, Russia, cut her fourth-place finish from 2022 in half to bring a silver medal home in the high jump. She completed five clearances until meeting the 1.89m/6-2.25 bar. Following a pair of misses, Kulichenko cleared the height to stay alive. Then, she lifted her body over 1.92m/6-3.50 on yet another third try to have the third-best mark in school history (best since 2017). Only the eventual winner, Texas A&M's Lamara Distin (1.95m/6-4.75), has a better mark in the country this year.
The Lady Bulldog duo of Jackson and Wilson combined for 13 points in the 60m final. Jackson ran out of lane four and ran her third-fastest time (7.17) to collect a silver medal during her first league action. Wilson, who was running in the first lane, came in two spots behind her teammate and training partner with a 7.22 for fourth.
Seven races later, Jackson and Wilson returned for their second final of the meet. This time, the Georgia pair clocked matching 22.97s to take fourth and fifth in the 200m. Jackson actually claimed fourth after crossing the line in 22.966 in the first group while Wilson finished in 22.970 in the opening group. This showing boosted the Lady Bulldogs' tally another nine points.
Two other teammates finished the triple jump with personal records on their sixth and final attempts to take fourth and fifth, scoring a combined nine points. Welcome, competing at her first SECs since transferring from Oklahoma, went 13.62m/44-8.25 on her fifth attempt before answering with a 13.74m/45-1 on her next try, which betters her No. 3 spot on UGA's all-time top-10 list. Marsh, lining up at her fifth SEC indoor meet, hit 44 feet on her fourth attempt but then improved that to 13.60m/44-7.50 to conclude the competition. This put her in fifth right behind Welcome and gave Marsh the fourth-longest effort in school history.
Deciding to compete in the open 60m hurdles and long jump at the meet, the nation's heptathlon leader, Kyle Garland, forced his way into a tie for third on the school's all-time list with his 7.77 for sixth in the hurdles. Already sixth in the long jump on Friday, Garland improved on his former personal best of 7.82 in the prelims to tally a combined six points for the Bulldogs in his final indoor meet.
Boling raced out of the first group in the two-part 200m final and repeated his 2020 finish at the meet by taking silver. The Houston, Texas, native sped to a 20.44 to continue his run of being one of the league's most consistent scorers in a variety of events for the Bulldogs.
Da Silva made a massive improvement to her seasonal best to leave the meet with fourth in the shot put. Hanging at 16.56m/54-4 or shorter her first five rounds, da Silva rallied with a heave of 17.25m/56-7.25 to round out her series and pass four finalists for the five points.
Black, a first-year transfer for the Bulldogs, came out of lane three to take seventh in the 60m final. The Mooresville, N.C., native finished the straightaway in 6.73 to add two points to Georgia's total.
Erm, who captured the 2018-19 SEC heptathlon titles, earned runner-up honors with 5,935 points following the seven events, which is expected to clinch him a spot at the NCAA Indoor Championships in two weeks. His teammate Ziggy Zoller finished 12th (4,658). Prior to this year, the Bulldogs had won 10 consecutive SEC heptathlon titles.
Lining up in lane four, Erm ran the 60m hurdles out of the second heat and finished in 8.35. This was eighth in the race and kept him in second overall. Zoller was third in the opening heat and 10th overall after starting with an 8.50. He stood one spot out of scoring in ninth place going into the pole vault.
Erm had four first attempt clearances in the pole vault to finish second in the event and stay in second overall, trailing the leader by 257 points. He finished with a mark of 4.95m/16-2.75, which was just below his personal best. Zoller came in at 3.85m/12-7.50 and had three misses at the height. He slipped to 12th place.
The Bulldog heptathletes completed their competition by finishing within five seconds of each other in the 1000m. Erm was third across the finish line in 2:40.45 while Zoller held strong for a seventh-place finish (2:45.74).
Up Next: Georgia will train through next weekend before those who are qualified travel to Albuquerque, N.M., for the NCAA Indoor Championships (March 10-11). While the Bulldogs have already competed in New Mexico at the facility once this regular season, their last postseason stop in Albuquerque was for the 2020 Nationals. That meet was canceled a day before competition because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Where To Find Bulldogs News: Results and recaps from the SEC Indoor Championships will be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams are always located on Twitter/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Day 1 Scorers
Name Event Finish (Mark/Time)
Nikolai van Huyssteen M. Pole vault 5th (*17-4.50)
Ella Rush Pentathlon 5th (4,081 pts.)
Kyle Garland M. Long jump 6th (*26-1)
Titiana Marsh W. Long jump 6th (6.11m/20-0.50)
Alencar Pereirra M. Hammer throw 6th (69-8.25)
Day 2 Scorers
Elija Godwin M. 400m 1st ($44.75)
Will Sumner M. 800m 1st (1:48.28)
M. Boling M. 4x400m relay 2nd (3:03.32)
C. Cavanaugh, W. Sumner, E. Godwin
Elena Kulichenko W. High jump 2nd (*6-3.50)
Johannes Erm Heptathlon 2nd (5,935 pts.)
Matthew Boling M. 200m 2nd (20.44)
Kaila Jackson W. 60m 2nd (7.17)
Mikeisha Welceom W. Triple jump 3rd (*45-1)
Titiana Marsh W. Triple jump 4th (*44-7.50)
Ana da Silva W. Shot put 4th (17.25m/56-7.25)
Autumn Wilson W. 60m 4th (7.22)
Kaila Jackson W. 200m 4th (*22.97)
Autumn Wilson W. 200m 5th (*22.97)
Kyle Garland M. 60mH 6th (*7.77)
Keshaun Black M. 60m 7th (6.73)
*personal best; $school record
Heptathlon Scores
Name 60m LJ SP HJ Day 1
Johannes Erm 7.03/4th 24-1/3rd *48-6.25/2nd 6-3.50/2nd 3,276 pts.
60mH PV 1000m TOTAL
8.35/2nd 16-2.75/2nd 2:40.45/2nd 5,935 pts.
Name 60m LJ SP HJ Day 1
Ziggy Zoller 6.96/6th 23-4/4th 40-3.25/7th 5-10.75/10th 2,987 pts.
60mH PV 1000m TOTAL
8.50/9th NH/12th 2:45.74/12th 4,658 pts.
^standing reflects position after each event; NH – no height
Senior Elija Godwin put an exclamation mark on his final league indoor meet by winning his first individual conference crown with a school record 400-meter dash time for the 10th-ranked Georgia men. Godwin blasted the meet record with a 44.75, which situates him No. 5 on the all-time collegiate list with the world's fastest time this season.
Two races later, a Bulldog starting his career, freshman Will Sumner, left the track with Georgia's third men's 800m title and first since 2012 after taking control of the final on the final straightaway. The Canton, Ga., hung in the middle of the pack before surging into the top spot on the final straightaway and edged the nearest competitor by .39 seconds.
The 13th-ranked Lady Bulldogs received an eight-point jolt thanks to sophomore Elena Kulichenko exploding for a career best and runner-up finish in the high jump. The 2022 SEC Freshman Field Athlete of the Year is now ranked No. 2 on the country's performance list and No. 3 in the UGA record books after clearing 1.92 meters/6 feet, 3 ½ inches. Kulichenko also tied as the No. 18 all-time collegiate performer with her showing.
Kulichenko (women's high jump), Keshaun Black (men's 60m), Kaila Jackson and Autumn Wilson (60m and 200m), Johannes Erm (heptathlon), Godwin (men's 400m), Sumner (men's 800m), Kyle Garland (men's 60m hurdles), Matthew Boling (men's 200m), Ana da Silva (women's shot put), Titiana Marsh and Mikeisha Welcome (triple jump) and Boling, Caleb Cavanaugh, Sumner and Godwin (men's 4x400m relay) were Saturday's sscorers.
Scorers on Friday included: Nikolai van Huyssteen (men's pole vault), Ella Rush (pentathlon), Alencar Pereira (men's weight throw), Garland (men's long jump), Marsh (women's long jump).
Team Scores: The Arkansas women (130.5 points) captured the team title with Florida (82) and Kentucky (59.33) rounding out the top three. Georgia finished sixth with 53 points. On the men's side, Arkansas completed the sweep with 100.25 points and Florida (73) and Alabama (63) were second and third, respectively. The Bulldogs finished fourth with 59 points.
Where To Catch The SEC Championships: The ESPN broadcast talent includes Dwight Stones, Dan O'Brien, Larra Overton and John Anderson during the meet coverage.
Sunday (8-11:30pm) - SECN (re-air)
SECN+ LINK: http://gado.gs/a4j
Full Results: For results throughout the weekend, please visit: http://gado.gs/a3v
The Lowdown: Godwin had placed second and third in the 400m during his Bulldog career at SEC Indoors but he collected the ultimate prize in his final opportunity. The Covington, Ga., native ran out of the second group after the opening foursome setting the tone at 45.05. Godwin took control from the gun and left the late great Torrin Lawrence's school record of 45.03 in 2010 (also set on the Tyson track) and Kirani James' meet record of 44.80 from 2011 behind to deliver UGA its fourth SEC 400m title and first since 2012.
It had been since Aaron Evans completed his four laps in 1:48.22 in 2012 since a Bulldog had won a men's 800m crown until Sumner completed the feat on Saturday. Nestling into the middle of the field of eight, Sumner posted the fastest final 200m with a 26.34 to shoot past Florida's Sam Austin for the championship with his 1:48.28.
Two of the aforementioned Bulldog sprinters combined in one of the evening's final events to add another eight points to the total with a runner-up finish in the 4x400m relay. Boling set the tone with a 45.20 leg to start the relay. Following the 400s by Cavanaugh (46.47) and Sumner (46.83), Godwin shut the door on the Bulldogs' section with a 44.83, which was the second-fastest split of the relay. This comes a year after Georgia won the title in the event and this year's time replaces the No. 3 all-time finish in the record books.
Kulichenko, a native of Odintsovo, Russia, cut her fourth-place finish from 2022 in half to bring a silver medal home in the high jump. She completed five clearances until meeting the 1.89m/6-2.25 bar. Following a pair of misses, Kulichenko cleared the height to stay alive. Then, she lifted her body over 1.92m/6-3.50 on yet another third try to have the third-best mark in school history (best since 2017). Only the eventual winner, Texas A&M's Lamara Distin (1.95m/6-4.75), has a better mark in the country this year.
The Lady Bulldog duo of Jackson and Wilson combined for 13 points in the 60m final. Jackson ran out of lane four and ran her third-fastest time (7.17) to collect a silver medal during her first league action. Wilson, who was running in the first lane, came in two spots behind her teammate and training partner with a 7.22 for fourth.
Seven races later, Jackson and Wilson returned for their second final of the meet. This time, the Georgia pair clocked matching 22.97s to take fourth and fifth in the 200m. Jackson actually claimed fourth after crossing the line in 22.966 in the first group while Wilson finished in 22.970 in the opening group. This showing boosted the Lady Bulldogs' tally another nine points.
Two other teammates finished the triple jump with personal records on their sixth and final attempts to take fourth and fifth, scoring a combined nine points. Welcome, competing at her first SECs since transferring from Oklahoma, went 13.62m/44-8.25 on her fifth attempt before answering with a 13.74m/45-1 on her next try, which betters her No. 3 spot on UGA's all-time top-10 list. Marsh, lining up at her fifth SEC indoor meet, hit 44 feet on her fourth attempt but then improved that to 13.60m/44-7.50 to conclude the competition. This put her in fifth right behind Welcome and gave Marsh the fourth-longest effort in school history.
Deciding to compete in the open 60m hurdles and long jump at the meet, the nation's heptathlon leader, Kyle Garland, forced his way into a tie for third on the school's all-time list with his 7.77 for sixth in the hurdles. Already sixth in the long jump on Friday, Garland improved on his former personal best of 7.82 in the prelims to tally a combined six points for the Bulldogs in his final indoor meet.
Boling raced out of the first group in the two-part 200m final and repeated his 2020 finish at the meet by taking silver. The Houston, Texas, native sped to a 20.44 to continue his run of being one of the league's most consistent scorers in a variety of events for the Bulldogs.
Da Silva made a massive improvement to her seasonal best to leave the meet with fourth in the shot put. Hanging at 16.56m/54-4 or shorter her first five rounds, da Silva rallied with a heave of 17.25m/56-7.25 to round out her series and pass four finalists for the five points.
Black, a first-year transfer for the Bulldogs, came out of lane three to take seventh in the 60m final. The Mooresville, N.C., native finished the straightaway in 6.73 to add two points to Georgia's total.
Erm, who captured the 2018-19 SEC heptathlon titles, earned runner-up honors with 5,935 points following the seven events, which is expected to clinch him a spot at the NCAA Indoor Championships in two weeks. His teammate Ziggy Zoller finished 12th (4,658). Prior to this year, the Bulldogs had won 10 consecutive SEC heptathlon titles.
Lining up in lane four, Erm ran the 60m hurdles out of the second heat and finished in 8.35. This was eighth in the race and kept him in second overall. Zoller was third in the opening heat and 10th overall after starting with an 8.50. He stood one spot out of scoring in ninth place going into the pole vault.
Erm had four first attempt clearances in the pole vault to finish second in the event and stay in second overall, trailing the leader by 257 points. He finished with a mark of 4.95m/16-2.75, which was just below his personal best. Zoller came in at 3.85m/12-7.50 and had three misses at the height. He slipped to 12th place.
The Bulldog heptathletes completed their competition by finishing within five seconds of each other in the 1000m. Erm was third across the finish line in 2:40.45 while Zoller held strong for a seventh-place finish (2:45.74).
Up Next: Georgia will train through next weekend before those who are qualified travel to Albuquerque, N.M., for the NCAA Indoor Championships (March 10-11). While the Bulldogs have already competed in New Mexico at the facility once this regular season, their last postseason stop in Albuquerque was for the 2020 Nationals. That meet was canceled a day before competition because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Where To Find Bulldogs News: Results and recaps from the SEC Indoor Championships will be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams are always located on Twitter/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Day 1 Scorers
Name Event Finish (Mark/Time)
Nikolai van Huyssteen M. Pole vault 5th (*17-4.50)
Ella Rush Pentathlon 5th (4,081 pts.)
Kyle Garland M. Long jump 6th (*26-1)
Titiana Marsh W. Long jump 6th (6.11m/20-0.50)
Alencar Pereirra M. Hammer throw 6th (69-8.25)
Day 2 Scorers
Elija Godwin M. 400m 1st ($44.75)
Will Sumner M. 800m 1st (1:48.28)
M. Boling M. 4x400m relay 2nd (3:03.32)
C. Cavanaugh, W. Sumner, E. Godwin
Elena Kulichenko W. High jump 2nd (*6-3.50)
Johannes Erm Heptathlon 2nd (5,935 pts.)
Matthew Boling M. 200m 2nd (20.44)
Kaila Jackson W. 60m 2nd (7.17)
Mikeisha Welceom W. Triple jump 3rd (*45-1)
Titiana Marsh W. Triple jump 4th (*44-7.50)
Ana da Silva W. Shot put 4th (17.25m/56-7.25)
Autumn Wilson W. 60m 4th (7.22)
Kaila Jackson W. 200m 4th (*22.97)
Autumn Wilson W. 200m 5th (*22.97)
Kyle Garland M. 60mH 6th (*7.77)
Keshaun Black M. 60m 7th (6.73)
*personal best; $school record
Heptathlon Scores
Name 60m LJ SP HJ Day 1
Johannes Erm 7.03/4th 24-1/3rd *48-6.25/2nd 6-3.50/2nd 3,276 pts.
60mH PV 1000m TOTAL
8.35/2nd 16-2.75/2nd 2:40.45/2nd 5,935 pts.
Name 60m LJ SP HJ Day 1
Ziggy Zoller 6.96/6th 23-4/4th 40-3.25/7th 5-10.75/10th 2,987 pts.
60mH PV 1000m TOTAL
8.50/9th NH/12th 2:45.74/12th 4,658 pts.
^standing reflects position after each event; NH – no height
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Jumps
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Multi-Events
/ Track & Field
Multi-Events
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
High Jump
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Multi-Events
/ Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Track & FieldGeorgia Track & Field Outdoor National Championships Video Recap
Monday, June 16
Georgia Track & Field Outdoor NCAAs Day 2 Recap
Friday, June 13
Georgia Track & Field Feature: Throwers Profile
Monday, June 09
Georgia Track & Field Outdoor SEC Championships Day 3 Video Recap
Monday, May 19
