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Yakushina Headlines Opening Day of SEC Championships
May 15, 2025 | Track and Field
LEXINGTON – Texas A&M track & field's Sofia Yakushina headlined a strong opening at the SEC Championships Thursday at the Shively Track & Field Stadium.
Yakushina put on a clinic on the first day of the heptathlon, finishing top-five in all four events on the day to lead the standings with 3,548 points. The NCAA leader opened her campaign finishing third in the 100m hurdles (13.71), second in the high jump (1.71m/5-7.25) and fourth in the shot put (11.84m/38-10.25). She saved her best showing for last, winning the 200m with a time of 23.70 to extend her advantage to 144 points entering the final day's action.
McKenzie Fairchild had her best performance of the year, as she claimed the first points of the championships for the Aggies with a fourth-place finish in the javelin with a season-best throw of 54.14m/177-7.
Adding more points to the women's tally was Megan Roberts in the 10,000m, as the freshman battled for 25 laps round the oval and crossed the line seventh in 34:51.47 which secured two points for the squad.
The men's 800m group got the prelims started on the day, as Sam Whitmarsh and Luca Santorum booked their ticket to Saturday's final. Whitmarsh ran out of the opening heat and led from start to finish, crossing the line in 1:47.36 which was the second-fastest time of the prelims. Santorum ensured his finals spot thanks to a kick down the home stretch, moving him up three spots to finish second in the heat and fourth overall with a mark of 1:47.99.
Jasmine Montgomery and Camryn Dickson followed suit in the women's 200m, also claiming a pair of finals spots. Montgomery topped the third heat of the event with a time of 22.53, while Dickson secured her spot as the fastest-timed qualifier bringing it home in 22.68 which was the fifth-best mark of the prelims.
Continuing the momentum was the men's 400m hurdles group, once again punching two finals tickets. Ja'Qualon Scott headlined the event, as he ran a personal-best time of 48.85 which jumped him a spot in the A&M all-time performers list to No. 2 and ranked as the top mark of the prelims. Bryce McCray ensured his spot to the final in a competitive third heat, advancing sixth overall in 50.11.
Next Up
The Aggies return to the Shively Track & Field Stadium tomorrow for the second day of the SEC Outdoor Championships.
To learn more about Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, visit 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.
Yakushina put on a clinic on the first day of the heptathlon, finishing top-five in all four events on the day to lead the standings with 3,548 points. The NCAA leader opened her campaign finishing third in the 100m hurdles (13.71), second in the high jump (1.71m/5-7.25) and fourth in the shot put (11.84m/38-10.25). She saved her best showing for last, winning the 200m with a time of 23.70 to extend her advantage to 144 points entering the final day's action.
McKenzie Fairchild had her best performance of the year, as she claimed the first points of the championships for the Aggies with a fourth-place finish in the javelin with a season-best throw of 54.14m/177-7.
Adding more points to the women's tally was Megan Roberts in the 10,000m, as the freshman battled for 25 laps round the oval and crossed the line seventh in 34:51.47 which secured two points for the squad.
The men's 800m group got the prelims started on the day, as Sam Whitmarsh and Luca Santorum booked their ticket to Saturday's final. Whitmarsh ran out of the opening heat and led from start to finish, crossing the line in 1:47.36 which was the second-fastest time of the prelims. Santorum ensured his finals spot thanks to a kick down the home stretch, moving him up three spots to finish second in the heat and fourth overall with a mark of 1:47.99.
Jasmine Montgomery and Camryn Dickson followed suit in the women's 200m, also claiming a pair of finals spots. Montgomery topped the third heat of the event with a time of 22.53, while Dickson secured her spot as the fastest-timed qualifier bringing it home in 22.68 which was the fifth-best mark of the prelims.
Continuing the momentum was the men's 400m hurdles group, once again punching two finals tickets. Ja'Qualon Scott headlined the event, as he ran a personal-best time of 48.85 which jumped him a spot in the A&M all-time performers list to No. 2 and ranked as the top mark of the prelims. Bryce McCray ensured his spot to the final in a competitive third heat, advancing sixth overall in 50.11.
Next Up
The Aggies return to the Shively Track & Field Stadium tomorrow for the second day of the SEC Outdoor Championships.
To learn more about Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, visit 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.
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