Spring Break
Georgia Track & Field earns All-SEC honors
Issue date: 5/27/09 Section: Sports
Georgia track and field had four competitors earn All-Southeastern Conference honors and another pair be named to the All-SEC Freshman Team following the SEC Outdoor Championships, according to a league announcement on Monday.
Junior Chris Hill, senior Justin Gaymon and junior Branislav Danis were the representatives for the Bulldog men while junior Michelle Thompson was named to the team from the Lady Bulldogs.
In addition, a pair of Lady Bulldogs Kristie Krueger and Eve Machovec - were named to the All-SEC Freshman Team after being the top freshman finisher in their events.
Three Georgia men earned All-SEC honors with Hill leading the way. The 2008 NCAA javelin champion, Hill wasted little time locking down his first SEC crown after his first attempt measured at an SEC meet record distance of 261 feet, 4 inches. Hill was only three inches away from topping the nearest competitor by 40 feet at this year¹s meet after fouling out after three throws at the 2008 SEC meet.
Although he came up short for his bid at three SEC 400-meter hurdle championships in a row, Gaymon was the runner-up in the event with a season-best time of 48.86. Gaymon now has the second-fastest time in the nation this season and is gunning for his third NCAA East Regional title as well as his third All-America certificate in the 400 hurdles.
Danis was Georgia's other second-place finisher after exploding for a personal-best effort of 215-11 in the men¹s hammer. Danis, who was competing in his first SEC outdoor meet, moved to No. 9 on the Bulldogs' top-10 list and was one of four Georgia scorers in the men¹s hammer at this year's meet.
Also battling in her first SEC meet, Thompson unleashed the second-longest throw of her career in the javelin (171-5) to finished second. The San Diego native overcame a pair of early fouls to give the Lady Bulldogs' their second runner-up finish in as many years in the javelin after winning the event from 2005 to 2007.
As far as the first-year competitors go, Krueger scored five points in the 1500 finals with a fourth-place finish. Krueger clocked a regional qualifying time of 4:23.63 in the event¹s prelims to move to No. 5 in the school record books before crossing the finish line in 4:24.55 in the finals, which was one spot ahead of teammate McKayla Plank (4:26.24).
Machovec was the second Georgia team member to earn All-SEC Freshman honors. Machovec finished 11th in the discus at her first outdoor league meet after recording a top throw of 142 feet. Machovec, who stands at the No. 7 spot on the Lady Bulldogs' all-time list, is the younger sister of thrower Israel Machovec, who was fifth in the men¹s discus (173-3) at the meet.
- Georgia Sports Communications
Junior Chris Hill, senior Justin Gaymon and junior Branislav Danis were the representatives for the Bulldog men while junior Michelle Thompson was named to the team from the Lady Bulldogs.
In addition, a pair of Lady Bulldogs Kristie Krueger and Eve Machovec - were named to the All-SEC Freshman Team after being the top freshman finisher in their events.
Three Georgia men earned All-SEC honors with Hill leading the way. The 2008 NCAA javelin champion, Hill wasted little time locking down his first SEC crown after his first attempt measured at an SEC meet record distance of 261 feet, 4 inches. Hill was only three inches away from topping the nearest competitor by 40 feet at this year¹s meet after fouling out after three throws at the 2008 SEC meet.
Although he came up short for his bid at three SEC 400-meter hurdle championships in a row, Gaymon was the runner-up in the event with a season-best time of 48.86. Gaymon now has the second-fastest time in the nation this season and is gunning for his third NCAA East Regional title as well as his third All-America certificate in the 400 hurdles.
Danis was Georgia's other second-place finisher after exploding for a personal-best effort of 215-11 in the men¹s hammer. Danis, who was competing in his first SEC outdoor meet, moved to No. 9 on the Bulldogs' top-10 list and was one of four Georgia scorers in the men¹s hammer at this year's meet.
Also battling in her first SEC meet, Thompson unleashed the second-longest throw of her career in the javelin (171-5) to finished second. The San Diego native overcame a pair of early fouls to give the Lady Bulldogs' their second runner-up finish in as many years in the javelin after winning the event from 2005 to 2007.
As far as the first-year competitors go, Krueger scored five points in the 1500 finals with a fourth-place finish. Krueger clocked a regional qualifying time of 4:23.63 in the event¹s prelims to move to No. 5 in the school record books before crossing the finish line in 4:24.55 in the finals, which was one spot ahead of teammate McKayla Plank (4:26.24).
Machovec was the second Georgia team member to earn All-SEC Freshman honors. Machovec finished 11th in the discus at her first outdoor league meet after recording a top throw of 142 feet. Machovec, who stands at the No. 7 spot on the Lady Bulldogs' all-time list, is the younger sister of thrower Israel Machovec, who was fifth in the men¹s discus (173-3) at the meet.
- Georgia Sports Communications
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