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Van Huyssteen’s Silver Highlights Day One At SEC Indoor T&F Championships
February 23, 2024 | Track & Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. --- Georgia junior Nikolai van Huyssteen collected the Bulldogs' first silver medal in the men's pole vault since 2020 on day one of the Southeastern Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Randal Tyson Track Center Friday.
Arkansas (37 points) leads on the women's side with Florida (30) and Texas A&M (27) trailing. The Lady Bulldogs are currently 11th with six points. On the men's side, Arkansas (44) is in the top spot with Florida (23) and Ole Miss (23) trailing. Georgia stands tied for sixth with 12 points.
The Bulldogs had four scorers on day one. Van Huyssteen scored for the third consecutive year at the meet in the vault, taking second with a personal best mark. In the men's long jump, true freshman Zavien Wolfe equaled his career best in the long jump to take fifth in his first opportunity at the league meet. To wrap up the night, Charlotte Augenstein, Zoe Pollock, Dominique Mustin and Sophia Baker slipped in the eighth and final scoring spot in the distance medley relay.
Sophomore Ella Rush completed her second pentathlon of the year and fourth of her career in fourth place with a season best 3,940 points to score points for the Georgia women. This bettered her 2023 showing by one place after Rush overcame a season-ending injury last year. In the heptathlon, freshman Jan Duhovnik tallied 2,924 points through four events and stands seventh at the end of day one.
Augenstein (women's mile), Kaila Jackson (women's 60-meter dash, 200m), Brody Buffington (men's 60m), Aaliyah Butler (women's 400m) and Christopher Morales Williams (men's 400m) also secured a spot in their respective finals on day one.
When Do The Bulldogs Start On Saturday?: Duhovnik will finish the final three events of the hep (60m hurdles, pole vault, 1000m) starting at 1 p.m. ET.
Freshman Riyon Rankin starts the field events in the men's high jump at 3:15 p.m. while Charlotte Augenstein will race in the mile final at 5:05 p.m.
Where To Catch The SEC Championships: The ESPN broadcast talent will include Dwight Stones, Dan O'Brien, Larra Overton and John Anderson during the meet coverage.
Broadcast info for SEC Indoor Championships:
Saturday (3 p.m.) - SECN+
LINK: http://gado.gs/bdq
Saturday (5 p.m.) - SECN+
LINK: http://gado.gs/bdr
Monday (9 p.m.) - SECN highlight show
Live Results: For results throughout the weekend, please visit: http://gado.gs/bev
The Lowdown: Van Huyssteen, a native of Paarl, South Africa, highlighted the opening night by collecting a silver medal in the pole vault. Sustaining a miss on his opening try of the competition, van Huyssteen got past that height and three others, including the top mark of his career at 5.35 meters/17 feet, 6 ½ inches. This situated him fourth in the school record books with the best showing in the event for UGA since 2020. The 2020 season was also the last time Georgia took second in the event at the meet with Haze Farmer earning the honor.
Wolfe, a native of Memphis, Tenn., sandwiched a mark of 7.67m/25-2 in the middle of his long jump series to score another four points with a fifth-place finish. Wolfe, who will triple jump on Saturday, matched his No. 9 mark in the school record books with Friday's effort.
The meet's day one finale was in the distance medley relay. The aforementioned Lady Bulldogs combined to run an 11:29.18 to score a point and take eighth place.
There were also six Georgia qualifiers. Augenstein, who bettered her 2023 finish in the mile prelims by three spots, slid into the 10th and final qualifying spot with a 4:46.05. She was the first Georgia competitor to advance and will return to action on Saturday in the final at 5:05 p.m.
Jackson continued her pursuit of a top finish in the 60m at SECs after registering the prelims third-fastest time of 7.15, which was a season best. After being the runner-up in the final as a freshman last year, Jackson will race in the final at 5:25 p.m. on day two.
Later in the day, Jackson returned in the 200m and punched her ticket to the final with yet another season best. She took second in the first of nine heats with a 22.94 to take seventh in the prelims. Jackson will race in the 200m final at 6:37 p.m. on Saturday.
On the men's side in the 60m, Buffington shot to No. 5 in the school record books with a personal best 6.63 and was fourth in the prelims to advance to the final in his first opportunity. He will race in the final on Saturday at 5:32 p.m. Buffington's fellow freshman teammate Micah Larry missed the final by .001 after running a 6.67 for ninth.
Butler set an immediate tone in the first heat of the women's 400m, taking her group out and finishing first with a 51.62, which was the second-fastest time of her career. Butler, who was fifth overall, is now slated to be back on the track for the final at 5:47 p.m. on the second day.
Improving 24 spots from his 2023 prelims finish, Morales Williams came out of the 10th and final heat to register the second-fastest time in the 400m prelims to advance. He sped to a 45.58 and will now race in the final on Saturday at 5:57 p.m.
Georgia started its day with heptathlon and pentathlon events. Duhovnik began the meet for the Bulldogs in the hep 60m. The Ljubljana, Slovenia, native finished fifth in the second heat and 10th overall with a 7.31 after one event. In the long jump, Duhovnik recovered from an opening foul to pop the best mark of his Georgia career (6.96m/22-10) to finish fifth in the event and inch to ninth overall.
Duhovnik began his series in the shot put with his only fair mark of 13.41m/44-0 to take fifth in the event and stand in sixth after three events. He finished his first day with five clearances in the high jump, including his final mark of 1.83m/6-0 to tie for seventh in the event and put him in seventh headed into Saturday.
Rush, a native of Repton, U.K., bettered her 2023 finish in the pent 60m hurdles by six spots after shaving off .01 off her time. She registered an 8.89 to be second in the second group and fifth overall. Rush moved into sixth overall after clearing a season-best height of 1.65m/5-5 in the high jump. She posted four clean attempts to tie for fifth in the event.
Rush opened with her top effort in the shot put (11.53m/37-10) to take fourth in the competition to stay in sixth overall. After her first try in the long jump, Rush surged in front of the field and never looked back. Her season-best effort of 6:05m/19-10.25 bumped her into fifth place overall. Rush's finale came in the 800m with a 2:28.07 to help deliver her the top-four finish.
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 X/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Day 1 Scorers
Name Event Finish (Mark/Time)
Nikolai van Huyssteen M. Pole Vault 2nd (!5.35m/17-6.50)
Ella Rush Pentathlon 4th (^3,940 pts.)
Zavien Wolfe M. Long Jump 5th (!7.67m/25-2)
Women's DMR 8th (11:29.18)
C. Augenstein, D. Mustin, Z. Pollock, S. Baker
Day 1 Qualifiers
Name Event Finish (Mark/Time)
Christopher M. Williams M. 400m 2nd (45.58)
Kaila Jackson W. 60m 3rd (^7.15)
Brody Buffington M. 60m 4th (!6.63)
Aaliyah Butler W. 400m 5th (51.62)
Kaila Jackson W. 200m 7th (^22.94)
Charlotte Augenstein W. Mile 10th (4:46.05)
!personal record; ^season best
Pentathlon Summary
Name 60mH HJ SP LJ 800m TOTAL
Ella Rush 8.89-5th ^1.65m/5-5-6th 11.53m/37-10-6th ^6.05m/19-10.25-5th 2:28.07 3,940 pts –4th
*standing after mark/time reflects position after each event
Heptathlon Day 1 Scores
Name 60m LJ SP HJ Day 1
Jan Duhovnik ^7.31-10th ^6.96m/22-10-9th 13.41m/44-0-6th ^1.83m/6-0 2,924 pts. – 7th
Arkansas (37 points) leads on the women's side with Florida (30) and Texas A&M (27) trailing. The Lady Bulldogs are currently 11th with six points. On the men's side, Arkansas (44) is in the top spot with Florida (23) and Ole Miss (23) trailing. Georgia stands tied for sixth with 12 points.
The Bulldogs had four scorers on day one. Van Huyssteen scored for the third consecutive year at the meet in the vault, taking second with a personal best mark. In the men's long jump, true freshman Zavien Wolfe equaled his career best in the long jump to take fifth in his first opportunity at the league meet. To wrap up the night, Charlotte Augenstein, Zoe Pollock, Dominique Mustin and Sophia Baker slipped in the eighth and final scoring spot in the distance medley relay.
Sophomore Ella Rush completed her second pentathlon of the year and fourth of her career in fourth place with a season best 3,940 points to score points for the Georgia women. This bettered her 2023 showing by one place after Rush overcame a season-ending injury last year. In the heptathlon, freshman Jan Duhovnik tallied 2,924 points through four events and stands seventh at the end of day one.
Augenstein (women's mile), Kaila Jackson (women's 60-meter dash, 200m), Brody Buffington (men's 60m), Aaliyah Butler (women's 400m) and Christopher Morales Williams (men's 400m) also secured a spot in their respective finals on day one.
When Do The Bulldogs Start On Saturday?: Duhovnik will finish the final three events of the hep (60m hurdles, pole vault, 1000m) starting at 1 p.m. ET.
Freshman Riyon Rankin starts the field events in the men's high jump at 3:15 p.m. while Charlotte Augenstein will race in the mile final at 5:05 p.m.
Where To Catch The SEC Championships: The ESPN broadcast talent will include Dwight Stones, Dan O'Brien, Larra Overton and John Anderson during the meet coverage.
Broadcast info for SEC Indoor Championships:
Saturday (3 p.m.) - SECN+
LINK: http://gado.gs/bdq
Saturday (5 p.m.) - SECN+
LINK: http://gado.gs/bdr
Monday (9 p.m.) - SECN highlight show
Live Results: For results throughout the weekend, please visit: http://gado.gs/bev
The Lowdown: Van Huyssteen, a native of Paarl, South Africa, highlighted the opening night by collecting a silver medal in the pole vault. Sustaining a miss on his opening try of the competition, van Huyssteen got past that height and three others, including the top mark of his career at 5.35 meters/17 feet, 6 ½ inches. This situated him fourth in the school record books with the best showing in the event for UGA since 2020. The 2020 season was also the last time Georgia took second in the event at the meet with Haze Farmer earning the honor.
Wolfe, a native of Memphis, Tenn., sandwiched a mark of 7.67m/25-2 in the middle of his long jump series to score another four points with a fifth-place finish. Wolfe, who will triple jump on Saturday, matched his No. 9 mark in the school record books with Friday's effort.
The meet's day one finale was in the distance medley relay. The aforementioned Lady Bulldogs combined to run an 11:29.18 to score a point and take eighth place.
There were also six Georgia qualifiers. Augenstein, who bettered her 2023 finish in the mile prelims by three spots, slid into the 10th and final qualifying spot with a 4:46.05. She was the first Georgia competitor to advance and will return to action on Saturday in the final at 5:05 p.m.
Jackson continued her pursuit of a top finish in the 60m at SECs after registering the prelims third-fastest time of 7.15, which was a season best. After being the runner-up in the final as a freshman last year, Jackson will race in the final at 5:25 p.m. on day two.
Later in the day, Jackson returned in the 200m and punched her ticket to the final with yet another season best. She took second in the first of nine heats with a 22.94 to take seventh in the prelims. Jackson will race in the 200m final at 6:37 p.m. on Saturday.
On the men's side in the 60m, Buffington shot to No. 5 in the school record books with a personal best 6.63 and was fourth in the prelims to advance to the final in his first opportunity. He will race in the final on Saturday at 5:32 p.m. Buffington's fellow freshman teammate Micah Larry missed the final by .001 after running a 6.67 for ninth.
Butler set an immediate tone in the first heat of the women's 400m, taking her group out and finishing first with a 51.62, which was the second-fastest time of her career. Butler, who was fifth overall, is now slated to be back on the track for the final at 5:47 p.m. on the second day.
Improving 24 spots from his 2023 prelims finish, Morales Williams came out of the 10th and final heat to register the second-fastest time in the 400m prelims to advance. He sped to a 45.58 and will now race in the final on Saturday at 5:57 p.m.
Georgia started its day with heptathlon and pentathlon events. Duhovnik began the meet for the Bulldogs in the hep 60m. The Ljubljana, Slovenia, native finished fifth in the second heat and 10th overall with a 7.31 after one event. In the long jump, Duhovnik recovered from an opening foul to pop the best mark of his Georgia career (6.96m/22-10) to finish fifth in the event and inch to ninth overall.
Duhovnik began his series in the shot put with his only fair mark of 13.41m/44-0 to take fifth in the event and stand in sixth after three events. He finished his first day with five clearances in the high jump, including his final mark of 1.83m/6-0 to tie for seventh in the event and put him in seventh headed into Saturday.
Rush, a native of Repton, U.K., bettered her 2023 finish in the pent 60m hurdles by six spots after shaving off .01 off her time. She registered an 8.89 to be second in the second group and fifth overall. Rush moved into sixth overall after clearing a season-best height of 1.65m/5-5 in the high jump. She posted four clean attempts to tie for fifth in the event.
Rush opened with her top effort in the shot put (11.53m/37-10) to take fourth in the competition to stay in sixth overall. After her first try in the long jump, Rush surged in front of the field and never looked back. Her season-best effort of 6:05m/19-10.25 bumped her into fifth place overall. Rush's finale came in the 800m with a 2:28.07 to help deliver her the top-four finish.
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 X/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Day 1 Scorers
Name Event Finish (Mark/Time)
Nikolai van Huyssteen M. Pole Vault 2nd (!5.35m/17-6.50)
Ella Rush Pentathlon 4th (^3,940 pts.)
Zavien Wolfe M. Long Jump 5th (!7.67m/25-2)
Women's DMR 8th (11:29.18)
C. Augenstein, D. Mustin, Z. Pollock, S. Baker
Day 1 Qualifiers
Name Event Finish (Mark/Time)
Christopher M. Williams M. 400m 2nd (45.58)
Kaila Jackson W. 60m 3rd (^7.15)
Brody Buffington M. 60m 4th (!6.63)
Aaliyah Butler W. 400m 5th (51.62)
Kaila Jackson W. 200m 7th (^22.94)
Charlotte Augenstein W. Mile 10th (4:46.05)
!personal record; ^season best
Pentathlon Summary
Name 60mH HJ SP LJ 800m TOTAL
Ella Rush 8.89-5th ^1.65m/5-5-6th 11.53m/37-10-6th ^6.05m/19-10.25-5th 2:28.07 3,940 pts –4th
*standing after mark/time reflects position after each event
Heptathlon Day 1 Scores
Name 60m LJ SP HJ Day 1
Jan Duhovnik ^7.31-10th ^6.96m/22-10-9th 13.41m/44-0-6th ^1.83m/6-0 2,924 pts. – 7th
Players Mentioned
Distance
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Distance
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Sprints
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Multi-Events
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Sprints
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Sprints/Jumps
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Sprints
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Sprints/Hurdles
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Jumps
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Multi-Events
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Pole Vault
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