2010 SEC Indoor Wrap-up

(Mar. 4, 2010): The University of Arkansas pair of Alain Bailey (Jam) and Tarik Batchelor (Jam) both Kingston College (high school) graduates, captured the top two spots in long jump  at the SEC Indoor Championship held at the Randall Tyson Track Center the weekend (Feb. 27 & 28). Bailey’s winning leap was his personal best 8.17m (26’-9¾”). Both Bailey and Batchelor qualified for the NCAA indoor championships March 12-13, when they surpassed the qualifying distance of 7.85m Batchelor jumped 8.09m (26’-6½”). Bailey has now posted impressive consecutive wins after jumping 26’-21/4” on February 12. 

University of Alabama’s Kimberley Laing (Jam) captured the women’s 60m hurdles title in a personal best 8.23 secs, ahead of Mississippi State University’s Laquinta Aaron (8.31). Auburn University junior and Bahamian native Krystal Bodie was 4th in 8.41 secs. Laing, a senior who hails from St Catherine, Jamaica has been running very and has booked her ticket to the NCAA Indoor championship.

The Bahamian duo of Shaniqua Ferguson and Nivea Smith both representing Auburn University finished 1-2 in the women’s 200m. Ferguson won in a time of 23.14 ahead of Smith’s 23.32. LSU’s Samantha Henry (Jam) finished 4th in 23.42.

Earlier, Ferguson was second in the 60m in 7.22 secs behind winner South Carolina University’s Lakya Brookins (7.18).  

Grenadian and University of Alabama’s freshman Kirani James ran a 45.24 secs in the 400m to place second to University of Georgia’s Torrin Lawrence, who ran a meet record 45.10 secs. Both James’ and Lawrence’s times were below the previous meet record of 45.29 set by 400m hurdles champion Kerron Clement back in 2005.