Florida Gators
Mt. SAC Relays
Lee Posts Ninth-Best Decathlon Score In UF History At Mt. SAC Relays
Friday, April 13, 2007 | Men's Track and Field
Junior Kurt Lee (Spring Hill, Fla.) recorded the ninth-best decathlon score in Florida history to take seventh place and wrap up competition at the Mt. SAC Relays decathlon on Thursday evening on the campus of Azusa Pacific University.
Lee was seventh overall with a PR of nearly 300 points in totaling 6,632 at the event. The competition was the first decathlon of the season and, along with the Southeastern Conference Championships, will be the only opportunity for the Gators to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Freshman Mike Morrison (Chesapeake, Va.) also took part in the event but did not compete in the pole vault and 1,500m due to injury.
“I'm really happy with Kurt's performance,” Florida field events coach Rana Reider said. “Even though he had a big PR, there's still a lot of room for improvement. We're still working on things with the goal of being ready to go for the SEC Championships. Mike is still in the learning process of becoming a collegiate decathlete and couldn't finish because of some aches and pains. We're going to continue to work on some things and get ready for SECs.”
Lee's sum of 6,632 was nearly 300 points better than his previous best of 6,341 as he finished fourth among collegians at the meet. His total also stands as the second best in the SEC in 2007.
Lee started the day off with a time of 16.28 in the 110m hurdlers for 702 points before registering a throw of 35.05m/115-0 in the discus for 565 points. He recorded a decathlon PR clearance of 4.86m/15-11.25 (868 points) in the pole vault before notching another PR in the javelin with a mark of 45.93m/150-8 for 529 points. He closed out the competition with a time of 4:49.72 in the 1,500m to score 620 points.
Morrison clocked a time of 15.08 in the 110m hurdles to begin the day with 840 points before recording a mark of 35.89m/117-9 in the discus (582 points). He couldn't compete in the pole vault because of injury, but took part in the javelin and posted a mark of 44.12m/144-9 for 512 points before he declined to run in the 1,500m.
Both athletes will take part in the Azusa Pacific Invitational pole vault on Friday, along with senior Mike Morrison (Willingboro, N.J.) and junior Wes Stockbarger (Port Charlotte, Fla.). The rest of the Gators will compete at the Miami Elite Invitational on Saturday. Results of the Azusa meet will be posted upon the event's completion at www.apu.edu/athletics.
