STARKVILLE — After a record-breaking performance Thursday, Mississippi State senior Erica Bougard continued her dominance Friday at the Southeastern Conference Track and Field Championships, when she finished first and set a meet and school record with 6,250 points in the heptathlon.
“I really didn’t even know I was breaking those records,” Bougard said. “I was just wanting to go out there and win all of my meets and make sure I stayed focused.”
Georgia’s Kendell Williams, a sophomore, was second in the heptathlon (6,003), while Arkansas’ Alex Gochenour was third (5,892).
In her first event, Bougard tied her personal best with a first-place finish in the long jump (20 feet, 11 3/4 inches).
The only lowlight of the record-breaking day came in the javelin, an event Bougard admits she usually struggles in. Bougard finished 10th with a throw of 103-10.
“My jav wasn’t good at all,” she said. “I was wanting to throw 35 meters instead of my 31.”
Bougard got back on track in the 800 meters, rallying from second place in the final 200 to claim first with a time of 2 minutes, 11 seconds.
“At first, my plan was to chill and stay in front of everybody, but once I saw I was in second, I told myself I had to push it because I don’t like losing,” she said.
The finish helped Bougard notch the fifth-best heptathlon total in NCAA history. The 6,250 points is the best in the nation this year. Her first-place finish secured her a spot in the nationals.
Bougard, who was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and is from Byhalia, had family members in attendance to make the day even more memorable. It was the first time members of Bougard’s family have watched her compete this season. Bougard said she used her family being there as motivation.
“They made me push a little bit harder,” she said. “They want to see me perform at my best, and I want to do my best for them.”
Bougard’s efforts Friday followed a strong day Thursday that helped set the tone for the record-breaking performance. She cleared 6-3/4 to finish first and set a school record in the high jump. She finished first in the 100 with a time of 13.11, took eighth in the shot put (38-4), and recorded a personal-best and meet-record time of 23.48 to win the 200. She ended the day with 3,820 points, the most after the first day of competition in the heptathlon at the SEC Championships.
Bougard also qualified for the finals in the 100 hurdles with a second-place time of 13.04. Ste’yce McNeil also qualified for the finals in the event with a time of 13.28. The finals are Saturday.
Another dominant performance
Zachary Taylor lost his father in an automobile accident in November. He said the only thing he wanted to do at the SEC Championships was to make his father proud.
Taylor, a sophomore from Rock Hill, South Carolina, did that in impressive fashion by amassing 7,466 points and finishing second in the decathlon to qualify for nationals.
“I know he’s up there looking down on me,” Taylor said. “I just kept telling myself to finish strong and make him proud.”
After placing eighth last year in the decathlon, Taylor set a personal-best in each event Friday. He finished ninth in the 100 hurdles (15.24), fourth in the discus (134-1), 12th in the pole vault (14-5 1/4), eighth in the javelin (172-4), and first in the 1,500 (4:23.51).
n In other performances, placing second for the second year in a row in the steeplechase, MSU’s Cornelia Griesche finished second for the second year in a row in the steeplechase (10:04). Emma Neigel finished 19th (11:33.34).
Arkansas’ Jessica Kamilos won the event in a time of 10:02.07.
Alabama’s Quanesha Burks won the long jump (22-5 1/4). MSU’s Tiffany Flynn was 11th (19-11 1/2).
South Carolina’s Jeannelle Scheper won the high jump (6-5). MSU’s Logan Boss and Abigail Dill tied for 13th (5-5).
In the discus, Texas A&M’s Shelbi Vaughan won with a mark of 211-8. MSU’s Sasha-Gaye Marston was 14th (140-8).
Former New Hope High School standout Mercedes Mattix was 20th in the preliminaries of the 400 (55.41). She didn’t qualify for the finals.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.