Florida freshman Gray Horn grabbed the first-day lead in the 10-event decathlon Thursday on the opening day of the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships on the Percy Beard Track at James G. Pressly Stadium.
Horn accumulated 3,809 points to hold the advantage over Tennessee’s Michael Ayers (3,752) and Mississippi State’s Tevarus Christian (3,634) through the five events.
“Gray put together a good first day that was not too far off his PR,” Florida multi-events coach Mellanee Welty said. “We have talked about his goals for the past couple of weeks, and his performance today, especially in the last few events, puts him in a position to accomplish them tomorrow (Friday).”
Horn finished third in the 100-meter dash to start the decathlon, clocking a time of 10.99 seconds to earn 863 points. The competitors then were forced to contend with a 2-hour, 43-minute storm delay during the middle of the event. The delay began at 3:57 p.m. EST during the men’s long jump.
Following the break, Horn then used his runner-up finish of 24 feet, 1 inch in the event to move himself into first place overall with 1,634 points.
Horn then struggled in the shot put, finishing sixth, before rallying with impressive performances in the last two events. He turned in a career-best leap of 6-6 in the men’s high jump to finish second in that event. Horn followed that up by notching a collegiate-best time of 50.23 seconds in the men’s 400-meter run.
The decathlon continues at 12:30 p.m. today. Field events begin at 2 p.m. and running events begin at 6 p.m.
SEC OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Percy Beard Track at James G. Pressly Stadium, Gainesville
Thursday’s results involving Florida athletes
Men’s Decathlon (after five events): 1. Gray Horn (Florida) 3,809 points; 2. Michael Ayers (Tennessee) 3,752; 3. Tevarus Christian (Mississippi State) 3,634; 4. Tommy Barrineau (Georgia) 3,630; 5. Daryl Brady (Mississippi State) 3,615; 6. Curt McGill (South Carolina) 3,521; 7. Antione Lipscomb (Mississippi State) 3,424; 8. Cory Harris (Georgia) 3,360; 9. Imani DuPerry (Kentucky) 3,309; 10. Jager Livingston (Auburn) 3,281; 11. Kevin Carney (Kentucky) 3,157; 12. Justin Brady (Alabama) 3,136; 13. Jerry Thompson (South Carolina) 3,079; 14. David Clyburn (Alabama) 2,992.