Stephen F. Austin
SLC Outdoor Championships
Lazenby Wins Long Jump
5/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
May 14, 2006
ARLINGTON, Texas - Reggie Lazenby saved his best for last Sunday at the Southland Conference Track and Field Championships. The Stephen F. Austin junior was in fifth place and down to his last attempt in the finals of the long jump before winning the league title with a school-record mark of 26-02.25. The jump was a new season best and Lazenby's sixth consecutive NCAA qualifying mark of the year.
The record-setting performance couldn't have come at a more crucial point for Lazenby. After qualifying for the finals with the second-best jump of the day, he had scratched by narrow margins on his first two attempts in the final round. Meanwhile, three other competitors recorded jumps longer than his qualifying performance. Down to his last shot, Lazenby responded like a champion. Texas-Arlington's Quinchun Carey followed Lazenby with a jump of 25-11.50, but it wasn't enough to unseat him.
Ryder Peacock joined Lazenby atop the podium with a first-place finish in the high jump, and Justin Reyes tied for second in the event to help boost the SFA men into the lead at the conclusion of the meet's second day. Peacock tied his season-best height of 6-08.75 for the victory, while Reyes recorded a height of 6-06.75. The Lumberjacks head into Monday's final round of competition with a slim 54-52 lead over defending champion Sam Houston State. Texas-San Antonio is close behind with 51 points.
In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Lumberjacks Keith Mahipala and Daniel Williams both recorded scoring finishes. Mahipala was fourth with a time of 9:22.47, and Williams checked in sixth with a time of 9:32.68. James Williams took fifth place in the shot put with a season-best throw of 53-00.00. In the decathlon, Bo Simpson finished fifth with a score of 6,157 points.
On the women's side, senior Crystal Chang led the Ladyjacks in holding onto their second-place position in the team standings by winning the heptathlon. Chang scored a stadium-record 5,255 points to capture the conference title. By the end of the day, the SFA women were solidly in second place, trailing Sam Houston State, 76-55. Texas State was a comfortable distance away in third place with 34 points.
Chang also placed in the high jump, along with two other Ladyjacks. Audrey Azu took second in the event with a height of 5-07.00. Chang and Meghan Denman were part of a five-way tie for third at 5-05.00. In the steeplechase, Katrina Nicholas took third place with a time of 11:07.75.
The SLC Championships will conclude Monday. Remaining field events - the discus, triple jump and pole vault - will begin at 10:30 a.m. Running finals are scheduled to start at 5 p.m.
- SFA -
