Prentice third in SEC decathlon

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.– No. 25 Arkansas Razorback men’s track and field got the jump start it needed on day one of the decathlon at the SEC Outdoor Championships, in Knoxville, Tenn., on Thursday. Sophomore Terry Prentice is in third place after five events and freshman Matt Kirbos is just out of scoring range in 10th place.

"Terry Prentice is doing exactly what we have been asking our guys to do, especially at a big meet," head coach Chris Bucknam said. "He had personal bests in four out of the five events they did today. This is just what we needed for our team. We asked our guys for performances that inspired others and we couldn’t have asked for a better day today."

"Matt Kirbos had some really bright spots and five personal bests," Bucknam said. "He has a great chance of scoring points for us and that’s exactly what we need him to do. I’m very happy with how today went."

Prentice is in third place after day one and five events. He has a point total of 3,976. He had a first day point-total personal best and personal bests in four out of five events contested. He opened the day with a time of 10.97 and 867 points in the 100 meters.

On his first, and only, attempt in the long jump, he marked a personal best of the more than one foot when his jump measured 24-8.25, good for 940 points. He finished with a toss of 39-5.25 and 608 points in the shot put, a clearance of 6-5.5 and 776 points in the high jump and a time of 50.64 and 785 points in the 400 meters.

Matt Kirbos has 3,496 points after day one and five events in the books. He had personal bests in all five events on Thursday. He opened the day with a time of 11.06 and 847 points in the 100 meters. In the long jump, he finished sixth with a leap of 22-6.5 and 783 points.

He continued with a toss of 39-0.5 and 600 points in the shot put, a clearance of 5-9.25 and 593 points in the high jump and a time of 53.19 and 673 points in the 400 meters.

The Razorbacks will continue competition Friday with the conclusion of the decathlon at 3 p.m.

Download: sec_thur_results.pdf