Friday, May 12
Baton Rouge, LA
University of Georgia
vs
SEC Outdoor Championships
Photo by: Kirk Meche
Garland Scores No. 2 All-Time Collegiate Best For Title At SECs
May 12, 2023 | Track & Field
BATON ROUGE --- Kyle Garland won his second decathlon crown with the second-best collegiate score in history at the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Championships at the Bernie Moore Track Stadium Friday.
Garland, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., went wire to wire through his 10 events of the decathlon to win his second career SEC title in the outdoor combined events. His 8,589 points ranks No. 2 in collegiate history behind his collegiate record 8,720 from the 2022 USATF Championships. Garland's final score on Friday also topples the former meet record (8,539) set by Texas A&M's Lindon Victor in 2017. The 2021 champion posted two personal bests on the dec's day two, including a meet record in the 110-meter hurdles.
Garland is the eighth Bulldog to win the SEC decathlon crown and the second in a row after Johannes Erm finished on the podium's top spot in 2022.
The Georgia men have scored 35 points and stand in second behind Arkansas (57). The Lady Bulldogs are tied for 10th with 11 and Arkansas (61) is in the lead.
Georgia Graduates: Friday also marked spring commencement for UGA students in Athens. Matthew Boling, Garland, Elija Godwin, Wesley John and Brandee Presley who competed on Friday and Mia Anderson, Sam Bowers, Caleb Cavanaugh, Ellie Hall and Julia Harisay who either competed on Thursday or will compete on Saturday at the meet all officially earned their degrees.
Ana da Silva also added points for Georgia on day two in the women's shot put. Da Silva steadily built her series to launch her best effort on her fifth of six tries. A second sixth-place finisher for the Lady Bulldogs was Titiana Marsh in the long jump. Marsh had matching season-best efforts on her second and sixth attempts to add more points.
In the men's 3000m steeplechase, Wesley John sprinted down the final straightaway for a bronze medal while his teammate Cole Heron edged the ninth-place finisher by a second and a half to also score. Sophia Baker rounded out the scoring with a seventh place showing in the women's steeplechase with the fastest time of her career.
On Thursday, graduate transfer Marc Minichello surged from sixth place into the lead on his fifth javelin toss to capture the Bulldogs' 12th all-time SEC title in the event.
The Bulldogs also had an additional three scorers who finished in the top eight during day one: Alencar Pereira in the hammer throw (2nd – 70.07 meters/229 feet, 10 inches), Erin McMeniman in the javelin (7th – 49.06m/160-11) and Julia Harisay in the javelin (8th – 48.45m/158-11).
The Bulldogs had four qualifiers on Saturday finals on day two: Charlotte Augenstein (1500m), Elija Godwin (400m), Aaliyah Butler (400m), Kaila Jackson (100m).
On Thursday, Georgia had four competitors punch their tickets to event finals: Will Sumner (800 meters), Matthew Boling (200m), Kaila Jackson (200m) and Caleb Cavanaugh (400m hurdles).
When Do The Bulldogs Start Saturday?: Nikolai van Huyssteen and Alon Rogow start the final day of the meet in the pole vault at 4 p.m. ET. The Bulldogs' 4x100m relay team, which is slated to feature Keshaun Black, Boling, Christopher Morales Williams and Godwin, will begin the action on the track at 6:05 p.m.
Where To Catch The SEC Championships: The ESPN broadcast talent includes Dwight Stones, Dan O'Brien, John Anderson and Larra Overton during the meet coverage.
SEC Network+ / SEC Network info:
Day Three – Saturday, May 13
SEC Network+ - 3:00-4:30 PM: http://gado.gs/ajd
SEC Network - 6:00-10:00 PM
Live Results: For results throughout the weekend, please visit: http://gado.gs/ajc
The Lowdown: John, a native of Watkinsville, Ga., went from 16th in the steeplechase in 2021, to 10th last year and then third (9:01.69) in his third try at the conference meet. His bronze came as the lead pack separated following the final turn and he left a string of runners behind him as a Texas A&M pair crossed first and second.
Heron was in that string of racers behind John and out battled the pack for the eighth and final scoring spot. He finished in 9:12.04 in only his fourth completed collegiate steeplechase.
Marsh, who was eighth in the long jump at the 2022 meet, traveled 6.35m/20-10 on both her second and sixth attempts. These season-best efforts put her in sixth place with the triple jump arriving on Saturday,
A native of Brazil and the shot put's defending champion, da Silva sent her fifth throw 16.78 meters/55 feet, ¾ inches to tally three points with her sixth-place finish.
Baker, a Cumming, Ga., native, took control of the No. 10 spot in the school record books with a 10:42.21 for seventh place in the steeplechase. She was one of three Lady Bulldogs to record the fastest times of their careers as Lorel Golden (10:53.34) and Gracie O'Neal (10:55.05) managed ninth and 11th-place finishes, respectively.
There were also four more qualifiers Friday:
More of the same when the discus arrived as Garland set the tone from his opening toss to win another event. He reached 46.76m/153-5, which is his best mark during a combined event competition, and was leading the nearest opponent by 603 points.
Garland went 8-for-8 for victories in his dec with a personal record in the pole vault. Sustaining an opening miss on his first height (4.40m/14-5.25), Garland then posted seven clearances with only two total misses before fouling out. His top height was 5.00m/16-4.75 to extend his lead to 723 going into the javelin.
In the second to last event, Garland hit his best javelin mark on his second try for sixth in the event. He reached 53.43/175-3 to push his lead out to 790 with the 1500m to go. During his final four laps, Garland powered through to clock a 4:54.59 to take 10th in the competition and finish 679 points ahead of the nearest competitor.
Also, Bella Witt got her first taste of the SEC outdoor meet and matched her personal record with a 13.25 in the 100m hurdles. This finish put her in 13th place in the prelims and would have equaled her No. 8 spot in the school record books had the wind not been 2.2 m/s.
Christopher Morales Williams ran out of the third heat in the 400m prelims and vaulted to No. 7 in the school record books with his finish. He recorded a 45.87 to finish 11th overall, two spots away from qualifying for the final.
Where To Find Bulldogs News: Results and recaps from the SEC Outdoor 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.
SEC Scorers – Day 1
Name Event Mark (Place)
Marc Minichello M. Javelin 79.50m/260-10 (1st)
Alencar Pereira M. Hammer throw 70.07m/229-10 (2nd)
Erin McMeniman W. Javelin 49.06m/160-11 (7th)
Julia Harisay W. Javelin 48.45m/158-11 (8th)
Day 2
Kyle Garland Decathlon !8,589 (1st)
Wesley John M. 3000mST 9:01.69 (3rd)
Titiana Marsh W. Long Jump 6.35m/20-10 (6th)
Ana da Silva W. Shot put 16.78m/55-0.75 (6th)
Sophia Baker W. 3000mST *10:42.41 (7th)
Cole Heron M. 3000mST 9:12.04 (8th)
*personal record
SEC Qualifiers – Day 1
Name Event Mark (Place)
Caleb Cavanaugh M. 400mH *49.04 (1st)
Will Sumner M. 800m 1:47.64 (1st)
Kaila Jackson W. 200m 22.83 (4th)
Matthew Boling M. 200m 20.36 (6th)
Day 2
Elija Godwin M. 400m 44.91 (3rd)
Kaila Jackson W. 100m 11.20 (4th)
Aaliyah Butler W. 400m *51.39 (7th)
Charlotte Augenstein W. 1500m 4:23.89 (8th)
Decathlon
Kyle Garland 100m LJ SP HJ 400m Day1
10.57 $*7.87m/25-10 15.65m/51-4.25 2.10/6-10.75 *47.89 ^4,626 pts.
$meet record; ^No. 2 all-time collegiate dec day one score
110mH Discus PV Javelin 1500m TOTAL
$*13.66 46.76m/153-5 *5.00/16-4.75 53.43m/175-3 4:54.59 !8,589
!No. 2 all-time collegiate dec score
Garland, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., went wire to wire through his 10 events of the decathlon to win his second career SEC title in the outdoor combined events. His 8,589 points ranks No. 2 in collegiate history behind his collegiate record 8,720 from the 2022 USATF Championships. Garland's final score on Friday also topples the former meet record (8,539) set by Texas A&M's Lindon Victor in 2017. The 2021 champion posted two personal bests on the dec's day two, including a meet record in the 110-meter hurdles.
Garland is the eighth Bulldog to win the SEC decathlon crown and the second in a row after Johannes Erm finished on the podium's top spot in 2022.
The Georgia men have scored 35 points and stand in second behind Arkansas (57). The Lady Bulldogs are tied for 10th with 11 and Arkansas (61) is in the lead.
Georgia Graduates: Friday also marked spring commencement for UGA students in Athens. Matthew Boling, Garland, Elija Godwin, Wesley John and Brandee Presley who competed on Friday and Mia Anderson, Sam Bowers, Caleb Cavanaugh, Ellie Hall and Julia Harisay who either competed on Thursday or will compete on Saturday at the meet all officially earned their degrees.
Ana da Silva also added points for Georgia on day two in the women's shot put. Da Silva steadily built her series to launch her best effort on her fifth of six tries. A second sixth-place finisher for the Lady Bulldogs was Titiana Marsh in the long jump. Marsh had matching season-best efforts on her second and sixth attempts to add more points.
In the men's 3000m steeplechase, Wesley John sprinted down the final straightaway for a bronze medal while his teammate Cole Heron edged the ninth-place finisher by a second and a half to also score. Sophia Baker rounded out the scoring with a seventh place showing in the women's steeplechase with the fastest time of her career.
On Thursday, graduate transfer Marc Minichello surged from sixth place into the lead on his fifth javelin toss to capture the Bulldogs' 12th all-time SEC title in the event.
The Bulldogs also had an additional three scorers who finished in the top eight during day one: Alencar Pereira in the hammer throw (2nd – 70.07 meters/229 feet, 10 inches), Erin McMeniman in the javelin (7th – 49.06m/160-11) and Julia Harisay in the javelin (8th – 48.45m/158-11).
The Bulldogs had four qualifiers on Saturday finals on day two: Charlotte Augenstein (1500m), Elija Godwin (400m), Aaliyah Butler (400m), Kaila Jackson (100m).
On Thursday, Georgia had four competitors punch their tickets to event finals: Will Sumner (800 meters), Matthew Boling (200m), Kaila Jackson (200m) and Caleb Cavanaugh (400m hurdles).
When Do The Bulldogs Start Saturday?: Nikolai van Huyssteen and Alon Rogow start the final day of the meet in the pole vault at 4 p.m. ET. The Bulldogs' 4x100m relay team, which is slated to feature Keshaun Black, Boling, Christopher Morales Williams and Godwin, will begin the action on the track at 6:05 p.m.
Where To Catch The SEC Championships: The ESPN broadcast talent includes Dwight Stones, Dan O'Brien, John Anderson and Larra Overton during the meet coverage.
SEC Network+ / SEC Network info:
Day Three – Saturday, May 13
SEC Network+ - 3:00-4:30 PM: http://gado.gs/ajd
SEC Network - 6:00-10:00 PM
Live Results: For results throughout the weekend, please visit: http://gado.gs/ajc
The Lowdown: John, a native of Watkinsville, Ga., went from 16th in the steeplechase in 2021, to 10th last year and then third (9:01.69) in his third try at the conference meet. His bronze came as the lead pack separated following the final turn and he left a string of runners behind him as a Texas A&M pair crossed first and second.
Heron was in that string of racers behind John and out battled the pack for the eighth and final scoring spot. He finished in 9:12.04 in only his fourth completed collegiate steeplechase.
Marsh, who was eighth in the long jump at the 2022 meet, traveled 6.35m/20-10 on both her second and sixth attempts. These season-best efforts put her in sixth place with the triple jump arriving on Saturday,
A native of Brazil and the shot put's defending champion, da Silva sent her fifth throw 16.78 meters/55 feet, ¾ inches to tally three points with her sixth-place finish.
Baker, a Cumming, Ga., native, took control of the No. 10 spot in the school record books with a 10:42.21 for seventh place in the steeplechase. She was one of three Lady Bulldogs to record the fastest times of their careers as Lorel Golden (10:53.34) and Gracie O'Neal (10:55.05) managed ninth and 11th-place finishes, respectively.
There were also four more qualifiers Friday:
- Augenstein, a native of Albany, Ga., earned an automatic invitation by taking third in her heat (eighth overall) with the second-best time of her career at 4:23.89. Augenstein will line up in the final on day three at 6:35 p.m.
- Godwin, a native of Covington, Ga., won the fifth and final heat of the 400m prelims with a 44.91 and was third overall. He will race in the final on Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
- Butler, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., registers the third-best time in UGA history (51.39, passing the legendary Gwen Torrence) to be second in the opening heat and seventh overall in the 400m prelims. Butler will return to the track on Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
- Jackson, a native of Redford, Mich., punched her ticket to a second event final when she won the second heat of the 100m with an 11.20. She will return to the 100m start line on day three at 7:35 p.m.
More of the same when the discus arrived as Garland set the tone from his opening toss to win another event. He reached 46.76m/153-5, which is his best mark during a combined event competition, and was leading the nearest opponent by 603 points.
Garland went 8-for-8 for victories in his dec with a personal record in the pole vault. Sustaining an opening miss on his first height (4.40m/14-5.25), Garland then posted seven clearances with only two total misses before fouling out. His top height was 5.00m/16-4.75 to extend his lead to 723 going into the javelin.
In the second to last event, Garland hit his best javelin mark on his second try for sixth in the event. He reached 53.43/175-3 to push his lead out to 790 with the 1500m to go. During his final four laps, Garland powered through to clock a 4:54.59 to take 10th in the competition and finish 679 points ahead of the nearest competitor.
Also, Bella Witt got her first taste of the SEC outdoor meet and matched her personal record with a 13.25 in the 100m hurdles. This finish put her in 13th place in the prelims and would have equaled her No. 8 spot in the school record books had the wind not been 2.2 m/s.
Christopher Morales Williams ran out of the third heat in the 400m prelims and vaulted to No. 7 in the school record books with his finish. He recorded a 45.87 to finish 11th overall, two spots away from qualifying for the final.
Where To Find Bulldogs News: Results and recaps from the SEC Outdoor 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.
SEC Scorers – Day 1
Name Event Mark (Place)
Marc Minichello M. Javelin 79.50m/260-10 (1st)
Alencar Pereira M. Hammer throw 70.07m/229-10 (2nd)
Erin McMeniman W. Javelin 49.06m/160-11 (7th)
Julia Harisay W. Javelin 48.45m/158-11 (8th)
Day 2
Kyle Garland Decathlon !8,589 (1st)
Wesley John M. 3000mST 9:01.69 (3rd)
Titiana Marsh W. Long Jump 6.35m/20-10 (6th)
Ana da Silva W. Shot put 16.78m/55-0.75 (6th)
Sophia Baker W. 3000mST *10:42.41 (7th)
Cole Heron M. 3000mST 9:12.04 (8th)
*personal record
SEC Qualifiers – Day 1
Name Event Mark (Place)
Caleb Cavanaugh M. 400mH *49.04 (1st)
Will Sumner M. 800m 1:47.64 (1st)
Kaila Jackson W. 200m 22.83 (4th)
Matthew Boling M. 200m 20.36 (6th)
Day 2
Elija Godwin M. 400m 44.91 (3rd)
Kaila Jackson W. 100m 11.20 (4th)
Aaliyah Butler W. 400m *51.39 (7th)
Charlotte Augenstein W. 1500m 4:23.89 (8th)
Decathlon
Kyle Garland 100m LJ SP HJ 400m Day1
10.57 $*7.87m/25-10 15.65m/51-4.25 2.10/6-10.75 *47.89 ^4,626 pts.
$meet record; ^No. 2 all-time collegiate dec day one score
110mH Discus PV Javelin 1500m TOTAL
$*13.66 46.76m/153-5 *5.00/16-4.75 53.43m/175-3 4:54.59 !8,589
!No. 2 all-time collegiate dec score
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Jumps
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Multi-Events
/ Track & Field
Multi-Events
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Javelin
/ Track & Field
Javelin
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ 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
