Florida Gators
Mt. SAC Relays Multi-Events
Morrison Breaks UF Decathlon Record At Mt. SAC Relays To Automatically Qualify for NCAA Championship
Friday, April 18, 2008 | Track and Field
University of Florida sophomore Mike Morrison (Chesapeake, Va.) shattered the 28-year old school record in the decathlon on Friday night with an NCAA automatic-qualifying total of 7,803 points to win the competition at the Mt. SAC Relays by 275 points. Senior Kurt Lee (Spring Hill, Fla.) also registered a PR over the course of the last two days, taking sixth with a provisional-qualifying score of 6,901.
“I couldn't be happier with what I saw from Mike and Kurt this weekend,” Florida multi-events coach Rana Reider said. “They both executed the plan to perfection and had really good meets. Getting Mike automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships was a priority, and accomplishing that was big for him. He's really established himself as one of the best multi-eventers in the country.”
Morrison eclipsed the previous record of 7,565 that was set by Liston Bochette in 1980 by setting or matching five personal records in the last two days. His previous PR in the decathlon stood at 7,316 points, nearly 500 less than his total this weekend in Southern California. With a total of 6,901 points, Lee earned an NCAA provisional mark by a single tally.
“It always feels good to break a record, and you can't ever be disappointed when you PR by almost 500 points,” Morrison said. “On the other hand, I easily left at least a hundred points out there, so now I'll focus on getting ready for the conference meet and doing my best to help the team there.”
Morrison opened the day with a career-best time of 14.99 in the 110m hurdles, collecting 851 points in the process. Lee clocked in at 15.71, which also represented a career best, while sophomore Steffan Hommel (Albershausen, Germany) finished in a time of 52.49.
Hommel bounced back with a win in the discus competition with a mark of 44.93m/147-5, narrowly missing his collegiate best in the event. Morrison was third with a throw of 39.85m/130-9, while Morrison registered yet another personal best in the discus. Senior Kurt Lee (Spring Hill, Fla.) checked in at 37.85m/124-2 to finish fifth.
As the competition moved to the pole vault, Morrison made his move, charging into the lead after tying for first with a clearance of 5.15m/16-10.75 to gather 957 points. The effort represented an NCAA regional-qualifying mark, and also equaled Morrison's outdoor career best. Lee negotiated a height of 4.75m/15-7 to take in 834 points in the event.
Morrison maintained his spot at the top of the standings in the javelin with a second-place toss of 59.70m/195-10, which helped him open up an 88-point lead over Cal State Los Angeles' Desi Burt with only the 1,500m to be contested. Lee posted a personal-best in the competition, placing fifth with a mark of 48.61m/159-6.
The evening concluded with the running of the 1,500m, in which Morrison earned 579 points with a time of 4:56.76, clinching the win by 275 points. Lee wrapped up his meet with a time of 4:47.43, which moved him into sixth place and sealed his NCAA provisional qualification.
A group of UF athletes will also be in action in the Golden State this weekend, as a half dozen Gators will take on the field at the Mt. SAC Relays in various events. Live results will be available via www.GatorZone.com.
- UF -
