Troy University Athletics
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Multi-Event Athletes Shine on Wednesday
3/23/2011 4:48:44 PM | Track & Field
Grant Bullington leads the Decathlon, while Veronica Bryant is in fourth after first day
Results | Quotes
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The first day of the FSU Relays and Combined Events is in the books, and the Troy University Trojans have a pair of multi-event athletes in contention in the heptathlon and decathlon after the first day of competition.
Grant Bullington is the leader in the event after the first five events in the decathlon, while Veronica Bryant finds herself within striking distance in the heptathlon – sitting fourth after the first day.
Bullington grabbed the early lead in the event as he captured the opening event of the decathlon – the 100-meters. He crossed the line first in a time of 11.32 seconds, easily outrunning Chris Snow (an unattached athlete) to the line to earn 791 total points. He followed that up with another victory, this one coming in the long jump, where he jumped 6.58 meters (21-07.25) for a total of 716 points.
The third event of the day is where he lost a little ground as he finished fourth in the event – the shot put. Bullington finished with a distance of 9.30 meters (30-06.25), finishing 109 points behind Conner Smith of South Alabama in the competition. However, he responded with his third victory of the day, this one coming in the high jump as he finished with a clearance of 1.90 meters (6-02.75). The jump was good enough to tie Ashton Krause of South Alabama, and the two walked away with 714 total points each in the event.
Heading into the last event, Bullington maintained a lead and was able to hang on to that lead with a second place finish in the 400-meter dash. Bullington crossed the line in a time of 52.08 seconds; finishing just behind Snow and earning a total of 721 points.
After the first day of competition, Bullington leads the decathlon with 3,386 points; followed by Ashton Krause of South Alabama with 3,263 points, Snow at 3,193 points and Smith at 3,182 points.
Meanwhile, competing in her first heptathlon, sophomore Veronica Bryant finds herself within striking distance at fourth in the competition heading into the final day on Thursday.
The sophomore finished eighth in her first event – the 100-meter hurdles – as she crossed the line in a time of 15.86 seconds to earn 732 total points. She was able to follow that up with 678 points in the high jump – one of her specialty events – as she finished fifth overall with a clearance of 1.5 meters (5-01.00).
Bryant closed the gap on the field in the third event of the day – the shot put – as she finished with a throw of 10.41 meters (34-02.00). The throw earned Bryant a second place finish and 556 total points. She followed that up with a fourth place finish in the 200-meters, crossing the line in a time of 26.12 seconds. The time was good enough to earn her 787 total points on the day.
She heads into the final day with 2,753 points; putting her just 206 points behind South Alabama's Lindsay Schwartz heading into Friday. She is also just 117 points behind Rachel Etienne and 25 points behind Rachel Klinger of South Florida. Although she is fourth overall in the event, she is third among collegiate athletes as Etienne is competing unattached this weekend.
The meet continues on Thursday with the decathlon beginning at 1 pm with the 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1500-meters. The heptathlon gets underway at 1:30 pm with the long jump, javelin and 800-meters.
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