Missouri
SEC Championships
Montgomery Wins SEC Title with Top-Ten World Mark
2/27/2016 11:06:00 PM | Track & Field
The freshman was one of six to mount the conference podium on Saturday
Full Results // Day Two Photo Gallery
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Mizzou Track & Field closed out SEC Championship competition in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Saturday (February 27) with yet another spectacular performance from Kahmari Montgomery, who claimed his first SEC title with one of the fastest 400m dash times in the world this year (45.78). Montgomery was joined on the podium by five of his teammates, including senior Markesh Woodson (60m dash) and the men's distance medley relay (DMR) – Will Crocker, Cain Winebrenner, Sam Dickerson, and Luca Russo.
The Tigers return to Columbia with six personal record (PR) performances for the second day of competition, including three school records and two All-Time Top Ten marks. This adds to the 16 PR's, ten All-Time Top Ten marks, and three school records that highlighted the first day of competition on Friday (February 26).
MONTGOMERY TAKES THE STAGE
There has been no shortage of highlights for freshman Kahmari Montgomery this weekend, as he timed through with school record performances in each of his three races throughout the two-day competition in Fayetteville, Arkansas. First up was the preliminary in the 400m dash on Friday, where he improved upon his own school record by 1.25-seconds with a 46.08 finish. He followed that up with a record finish in the 200m dash an hour later, taking down senior Markesh Woodson's top time from 2015 with a 21.03 clocking.
Already ranked in the top-15 in the world with that 400m dash PR, Montgomery returned to the track Saturday afternoon with the podium within sight and, in one of the most exciting finishes of the day, claimed the top finish with one of the top-ten times in the world so far this year – 45.78. Montgomery also stamped his ticket to the NCAA Championships with those performances, and now sits at No. 5 in the national rankings.
WOODSON CLAIMS SECOND-PLACE FINISH
Up first on the track, though, was senior Markesh Woodson, who found himself back on the podium in the 60m dash for the third time in his career. Woodson claimed his second consecutive runner-up finish in the event with a 6.60 crossing, just off of his season's best 6.59, achieved on the Tyson Track earlier this month.
MEN'S DMR RETURNS TO THE PODIUM
Also repeating their 2015 finish was the men's DMR, who placed third overall with the fourth-fastest time in school history, 9:41.29. Of the four men who took to the track for the black and gold were two returning members of the 2015 All-SEC team, as senior Will Crocker reprised his role in the 1200m leg and senior Sam Dickerson moved down into the 800m.
A tight race from the start, Crocker put the Tigers in a good position, closing the first leg in second overall. Junior Cain Winebrenner took the baton from there, keeping pace just off the lead pack during the 400m, passing off to Dickerson in fourth overall. The 3k steeplechase specialist showed his versatility during the 800m leg, handing off to Luca Russo for the closing mile in third. Russo fought hard to maintain that position at the line, just out-leaning Arkansas to secure their podium position.
WOMEN'S 4x400-METER IMPROVE RECORD TIME
The women's 4x400m relay also saw a record performance, as the squad of freshman Maya Cody, junior Valerie Thames, junior LaQuisha Jackson, and senior Sandrae Farquharson improved upon their school record time, achieved on the Tyson Track earlier this month. Their final crossing of 3:34.42 dropped just over three-seconds from their previous best (3:37.67) and earned them a fifth-place finish.
APPLEBEE TAKES DOWN POLE VAULT RECORD
Senior Alyssa Applebee rounded out the weekend's record performances, finally putting herself at the top of the record board for the women's pole vault. She bested her previous best (4.06m // 13-3.75) two-times over throughout the competition, first with a single-attempt make at 4.12m (13-6.25), then again in one attempt at 4.22m (13-10).
That final bar puts her over the previous school record of 4.15m (13-7.50), held by All-American Jennifer Bennett since 2003.
OTHER #MIZTF HIGHLIGHTS
Three other Tigers closed Saturday's competition with personal records, including freshman Jamie Kempfer, who timed through with her third-consecutive PR in the 5000m run. Kempfer, who has gone undefeated all season until this weekend, has dropped nearly 30-seconds since her 17:11.87 debut in January. She now sits at No. 7 in the Mizzou All-Time Top Ten for the event with her season-closing 16:42.22, which earned her eighth in the conference field.
A pair of personal record marks also came out of the field events, starting with senior Nick Sublett, who tossed a career-best 17.21m (56-5.75) in the weight throw.
On the triple jump runway, junior Danielle Williams improved upon her PR with a mark of 12.19m (40-0), good for No. 2 in the Mizzou All-Time Top Ten in the event.
Other noteworthy performances include a season's best performance in the mile final from senior Will Crocker, who crossed in fourth overall with a final time of 4:01.71, just off of his 4:01.34 PR from the 2015 Tyson Invitational.
In the women's 800m, Valeska Halamick also just missed on her PR time, achieved during Friday's preliminary round where she clocked through in 2:09.25. The sophomore closed her season with a 2:09.41 finish, placing sixth in the event.
HEAR FROM COACH HALTER
"This was an amazing weekend of world class track and field. I can speak for the staff and say we are very proud of this team and their respective accomplishments. This weekend exemplified the competitive fire of these two teams. We simply wanted to compete hard in every event. We knew the fast times, big bars, and big marks would follow if we simply put ourselves out there and competed. And they did just that. Just a phenomenal effort. The team demonstrated what consistent effort, coupled with terrific focus and right choices can produce. And, even more importantly, they demonstrated the power of team in track and field."
#MIZTF SCORERS - MEN
Kahmari Montgomery – First, 400m (45.78)
Markesh Woodson – Second, 60m (6.60)
Will Crocker – Third, DMR (9:41.29)
Cain Winebrenner – Third, DMR (9:41.29)
Sam Dickerson – Third, DMR (9:41.29)
Luca Russo – Third, DMR (9:41.29)
Will Crocker – Fourth, Mile (4:01.71)
Matthew Ludwig – Sixth, Pole Vault (5.15m // 16-10.75)
Tony Carodine – Eighth, Triple Jump (15.62m // 51-3)
#MIZTF SCORERS – WOMEN
Maya Cody – Fifth, 4x400m (3:34.42)
Valerie Thames – Fifth, 4x400m (3:34.42)
LaQuisha Jackson – Fifth, 4x400m (3:34.42)
Sandrae Farquharson – Fifth, 4x400m (3:34.42)
Karissa Schweizer – Fifth, 3000m (9:27.51)
Alyssa Applebee – Sixth, Pole Vault (4.22m // 13-10)
Valeska Halamicek – Sixth, 800m (2:09.41)
Teylar Adelsberger – Seventh, DMR (11:28.74)
Sydney Wells – Seventh, DMR (11:28.74)
Liz Reida – Seventh, DMR (11:28.74)
Karissa Schweizer – Seventh, DMR (11:28.74)
Jamie Kempfer – Eighth, 5000m (16:42.22)
TEAM SCORES
Men - 10th, 33 points
Women - 13th, 17 points
#MIZTF RESULTS – SATURDAY
60m Dash, Men – 2. Markesh Woodson, 6.60
400m Dash, Men – 1. Kahmari Montgomery, 45.78 SR
800m Run, Women – 6. Valeska Halamicek, 2:09.41
Mile Run, Men – 4. Will Crocker, 4:01.71
5000m Run, Men – 12. Jordan Cook, 14:35.71 // 17. Ollie Lockley, 14:52.22 // 19. Dan Roe, 15:01.21
5000m Run, Women – 8. Jamie Kempfer, 16:42.22 PR #7 // 19. Ellyn Atkinson, 17:17.31
DMR, Men – 3. (Will Crocker, Cain Winebrenner, Sam Dickerson, Luca Russo), 9:41.29 #4
DMR, Women – 7. (Teylar Adelsberger, Sydney Wells, Liz Reida, Karissa Schweizer), 11:28.74
4x400m, Women – 5. (Maya Cody, Valerie Thames, LaQuisha Jackson, Sandrae Farquharson), 3:34.42 SR
Pole Vault, Women – 6. Alyssa Applebee, 4.22m (13-10) SR
Triple Jump, Men – 8. Tony Carodine, 15.62m (51-3) // 9. John Warren, 15.41m (50-6.75)
Triple Jump, Women – 16. Danielle Williams, 12.19m (40-0) PR #2
Weight Throw, Men – 15. Nick Sublett, 17.21m (56-5.75) PR
#MIZTF RESULTS – FRIDAY
60m Dash, Men – 4. Markesh Woodson, 6.64q // 25. Jonathan Holder, 7.04
60m Dash, Women – 16. LaQuisha Jackson, 7.45 // 32. Maya Cody, 7.66
200m Dash, Men – 9. Kahmari Montgomery, 21.03 SR // 21. Jerrad Mason, 21.52 PR #7 // 24. Niager Mathis, 22.01
200m Dash, Women – 11. LaQuisha Jackson, 23.57 SR // 33. Jacqueline Obi, 25.64
400m Dash, Men – 4. Kahmari Montgomery, 46.08q SR // 11. Jerrad Mason, 46.89 PR #2
400m Dash, Women – 14. Valerie Thames, 53.80 PR #2 // 21. Maya Cody, 54.83 PR #5 // 30. Ayo Adewole, 55.77 PR #10 // 32. Sandrae Farquharson, 55.89 // 34. Sydney Wells, 57.00
800m Run, Men – 10. Cain Winebrenner, 1:48.97 PR #9 // 22. Mark Sheridan, 1:53.03
800m Run, Women – 6. Valeska Halamicek, 2:09.25q PR #10
Mile Run, Men – 2. Will Crocker, 4:06.12q // 15. Luca Russo, 4:11.64 // 20. Thomas George, 4:13.75 PR // 22. Sam Dickerson, 4:15.42
Mile Run, Women – 21. Hannah Thomas, 5:13.87 // 22. Bailey Hession, 5:23.08
3000m Run, Men – 9. Dan Roe, 8:22.92 // 21. Tyler Schneider, 8:42.76 // 22. Patrick Kearns, 8:57.76
3000m Run, Women – 5. Karissa Schweizer, 9:27.51 // 9. Teylar Adelsberger, 9:32.59 PR #7 // 19. Nicole Mello, 9:54.83 PR
60m Hurdles, Men – 11. Charles Graham, Jr., 8.05
60m Hurdles, Women – 18. Alyssa Felton, 8.54
Long Jump, Men – 15. Tony Carodine, 7.01m (23-0)
Long Jump, Women – 16. Lynnsey Brim, 5.77m (18-11.25) PR
Pole Vault, Men – 6. Matthew Ludwig, 5.15m (16-10.75)
Shot Put, Men – 12. Will Fife, 16.33m (53-7) PR // 13. Avery Carter, 15.65m (51-4.25)
Players Mentioned
