Lawson Repeats as MAC Decathlon Champion
5/11/2018 9:07:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
BUFFALO, N.Y. – All-American TJ Lawson completed a dominant performance in the decathlon to repeat as Mid-American Conference champion in the event during Friday's second day of competition at the 2018 Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
After sweeping the first five events of the competition on Thursday, Lawson opened Friday with victories in the 110-meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 14.77 and the discus throw (123'-8"). He finished with 7,032 points to win by more than 300.
The Golden Flashes' men are currently third with 50 points and the women are tied for fourth with 32 points.
Men's Highlights
Kent State scored at least five points in all four event finals Friday for 26 points to move ahead of Central Michigan for third-place.
The Golden Flashes scored 14 points in the decathlon, their best event of the championships. TJ Lawson joined Chris Caine (2006-7) as the only Kent State athletes to win the decathlon in consecutive years. Lawson won seven of the competition's 10 events and added a third-place finish in the javelin throw (154'-2").
Jacob Mally placed fifth with 6,269 points. Mally recorded personal-bests in the 110-meter hurdles (14.85) and pole vault (13'-5.25") to take second and third, respectively, in those events. He also took third in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:48.64. Ryan Looser scored 5,938 points to finish ninth.
Walter Petzel and David Paliscak combined for nine points in the shot put. Petzel posted a personal-best mark of 57'-10.25" to take fourth and Paliscak had a top throw of 55'-7" for fifth.
Samory Fraga finished third in the long jump with a mark of 24'-8.25".
Clark Bookman ran a personal-best time of 9:05.94 to place fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Three Flashes advanced to Saturday's running event finals. Riak Reese ran the fastest time in the prelims for the 100-meter dash (10.28), while Korie Davis II clocked a personal-best 48.26 in the 400-meter dash and Dairius Ragland ran a 14.48 in the 110-meter hurdles.
Women's Highlights
Kent State scored 12 points on Friday. The Golden Flashes now have 32 points and are currently tied with Toledo for fourth-place. The Flashes are only eight points out of second.
Sam Tollerud cleared 13'-6.25" for her second straight runner-up finish in the pole vault. Maria Horrigan placed seventh with a top height of 12'-4.25".
Cayla Carey took seventh in the long jump with a top mark of 19'.
Brielle Collier scored 4,136 in her heptathlon debut to finish ninth. Collier's best finish of the day was in the 800-meter run (2:31.18).
Tyler Williams and Rachel Banks advanced to running finals on Saturday. Williams clocked a season-best 55.06 in the 400-meter dash prelims and Banks finished third in the 800-meter run prelims with a time of 2:11.69.
Previewing Saturday
Saturday's action begins at 11 a.m. with the men's triple jump, women's high jump and women's discus. Championship races are scheduled to start at 12 p.m. with the women's 4x100 relay and will conclude at approximately 4:15 p.m. The competition will be followed by the awards ceremony at 4:20 p.m., with the meet's top individuals and teams being crowned.
Live video streaming and live results will be available throughout the day's competition.
Men's Standings
1. Akron – 89
2. Eastern Michigan – 63
3. Kent State – 50
4. Central Michigan – 49
5. Miami – 31
6. Buffalo – 30
Women's Standings
1. Akron – 57
2. Central Michigan – 40
3. Bowling Green – 37
t4. Kent State – 32
t4. Toledo – 32
6. Western Michigan – 26
t7. Eastern Michigan – 22
t7. Miami – 22
t7. Ohio – 22
10. Buffalo – 12
11. Northern Illinois – 8
12. Ball State – 2
Players Mentioned
