Beckford wins shot long jump

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Senior Peter-Gaye Beckford was the first to score for Arkansas Razorback women’s track and field on day one of the SEC Championships in Lexington, Ky.

"This was a solid start to what amounts to a long weekend of competition, for the team and for Peter-Gaye," head coach Lance Harter said. "She had good wins in her signature events, the long jump and the shot put. She needs to rest up and get back to work for the other events she is competing in. She is tough I know she’ll bounce back well."

Beckford finished eighth overall in the pentathlon with 3,585 points. For the second year in a row, Beckford won the SEC pentathlon shot put. She did so this season with a toss of 43-4.25, good for 741 points.

New for 2009, she also picked up the long jump win after finishing second in 2008 to teammate Etienne Chaplin. Beckford marked a long jump of 20-2.25, good for 896 points and an improved NCAA provisional mark.

The Manchester, Jamaica native started the day with a time of 9.28 in the 60-meter hurdles and continued with a high jump clearance of 4-10.25, a personal best. She ended the five-event competition with another personal best, a time of 2:47.90 in the 800 meters.

Contested on Saturday are the pole vault, long jump, the 3,000-meter finals and numerous running prelims. For complete results and more information, visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

Download: SEC Day 1 Results.pdf