University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Rally To Place Third In Best Finish Since 1997; Spring Corps Sweeps Double
February 25, 2001 | Men's Track
 |
| Tyler Garrett |
The Vols stood in second place before being edged out in the final event to take third overall. After scoring nine points on the first day of competition, the Volunteers erupted for 71 points on the final day paced by a sprint corps (Leonard Scott, Justin Gatlin and Sean Lambert) that swept the top three positions in both the 60M dash and 200M dash to add 48 points to the Tennessee effort.
The third-place finish marked Tennessee's best SEC Indoor performance since 1997.
"In the greatest conference, we finished a strong third, only one point out of second place, despite losing points because of injuries to Rocky Danners (pole vault) and Matt Rush (60M hurdles) and a number of places you can find a point or two," head coach Bill Webb said. "I like the way our guys competed. I like where we are going into nationals. They'll never forget Tennessee's performance in the sprints -- some of the fastest times in history by an American. First it was Leonard, then Justin, then Leonard again."
Tennessee's sprint corps authored the most memorable story of the day by sweeping the top three in both the 60M dash and 200M dash. Scott staked claim as college track's fastest man twice in running NCAA-leading times in claiming the 60M dash (6.48) and 200M dash (20.47) titles. Scott's times were good for SEC Indoor meet records and school indoor records in both events.
Additionally, Scott's 60M time is tied for the fifth-fastest ever by an American (tied with Leroy Burrell) and his 200M time is the sixth-best ever indoors by an American. Scott contributed 21.25 points to the Tennessee cause with his SEC titles in the 60M dash and 200M dash while garnering one-fourth of Tennessee's five points from the fourth-place 4x400M relay. Scott trailed David Kimani of Alabama, the meet's high scorer, by only .25 of a point.
"Winning the 60M dash title in the 1999 NCAAs was great, but this means so much to me," Scott said. "I've been working and training hard. It's finally all paying off for me. The NCAAs are something serious. Everybody's going to be watching. There are going to be some amazing things happen. I want to be the one making the amazing things happen."
Tennessee's rookie sprinters, Gatlin and Lambert, also held their own by taking second and third, respectively, in both the 60M dash and 200M dash. Gatlin clocked a 6.63 in the 60M dash and a 20.58 in the 200M dash to take runner-up honors in both events. Gatlin's reign as 200M dash indoor school record holder (20.52) lasted one day courtesy of Scott's reclaiming the record. Lambert also continued his strong freshman season with third-place finishes in the 60M dash (6.67) and 200M dash (a personal-best, provisional time of 6.67) to attempt to write his ticket to the NCAAs.
Tennessee also got quality finishes out of its relay efforts. The Volunteers crossed in a provisional, season-best 3:09.60 to earn fourth despite shuffling the lineup at the last minute because of Gatlin's tight hamstring. Co-captain Hassaan Stamps filled in admirably. The baton was passed by Shannon Wheatley to Scott (second-fastest split of 46.4) to Stamps to Dwayne Bell (fastest split of 46.3). Likewise, the Volunteers took fourth in the distance medley relay with a time of 9:57.34. Rob Cloutier led off, followed by Stephen Harris (a decathlete by trade who filled in for Stamps) and Adrian Wheatley with Marcus Tanner on the anchor leg.
Tennessee also suffered another tangle with the injury bug. While warming up for the 60M hurdles finals, Tennessee's Rush, the Vol with the fastest time in the event, sustained a hamstring injury and withdrew from the race after he attempted to get out of the starting block. Hamstring injuries were a nemesis for the Vols all weekend. Danners was slowed by a similar injury in the pole vault Saturday. Gatlin was held out of the 4x400M relay as a precaution because of a tight hamstring.
Tyler Garrett proved to be a bright spot in the throws by placing fifth in the shot put (57-6 1/4) to add four points.
"I think we'll be a stronger outdoor team," Webb said. "We pick up Jebreh (Harris) which is huge for us in the 800M run and the 4x400M relay. Additionally, we'll look to add points in the steeplechase, javelin, decathlon, 400M hurdles, discus and hammer."
Last year, the Volunteers finished fifth with 58 points at the SEC Indoors.
TEAM RESULTS
SEC Indoor Championships
Lexington, Ky.
Sunday, Feb. 25, 2001
| SEC Indoor Final Results | |
| 1. Arkansas | 108 |
| 2. LSU | 81 |
| 3. TENNESSEE | 80 |
| 4. Florida | 67 |
| 5. Alabama | 63 |
| 6. Georgia | 62 |
| 7. Kentucky | 44 |
| South Carolina | 44 |
| 9. Auburn | 35 |
| 10. Ole Miss | 26 |
| 11. Miss. State | 13 |
Individual Results
SEC Indoor Championships
| 60M dash-finals | ||
| 1. | Leonard Scott, Tenn. | 6.48**PR |
| (SEC Meet record, UT record, fastest time in NCAA, fifth fastest American all-time) | ||
| 2. | Justin Gatlin, Tenn. | 6.63* |
| 3. | Sean Lambert, Tenn. | 6.67* |
| 200M dash-finals | ||
| 1. | Leonard Scott, Tenn. | 20.47**PR |
| (SEC Meet record, UT Indoor Record, fastest time in NCAA, sixth fastest American all- time) | ||
| 2. | Justin Gatlin, Tenn. | 20.58** |
| 3. | Sean Lambert, Tenn. | 21.05*PR |
| 400M dash-finals | ||
| 1. | Avard Moncur, Auburn | 45.68** |
| 8. | Shannon Wheatley, Tenn. | 47.67 |
| 9. | Dwayne Bell, Tenn. | 47.72 |
| Mile run-finals | ||
| 1. | David Kimani, Ala. | 4:00.75** |
| 6. | Marcus Tanner, Tenn. | 4:08.29 |
| 5,000M run | ||
| 1. | Murray Link, Ark. | 14:07.29* |
| 7. | Brad Leach, Tenn. | 14:49.14 |
| 9. | Tim Kelly, Tenn. | 15:12.92PR |
| 60M hurdles-finals | ||
| 1. | Ron Bramlett, Ala. | 7.55** |
| 8. | Karl Jennings, Tenn. | 7.99 |
| -- | Matt Rush, Tenn. | DNF (Inj.) |
| 4x400M relay | ||
| 1. | LSU | 3:06.73** |
| 4. | Tennessee | 3:09.60*SB |
| (S. Wheatley, Scott 46.4, Stamps, D. Bell 46.3) | ||
| Distance medley relay | ||
| 1. | Arkansas | 9:47.74 |
| 4. | Tennessee | 9:57.34 |
| (Cloutier, S. Harris, A. Wheatley, Tanner) | ||
| High jump | ||
| 1. | Kenny Evans, Ark. | 7-1 3/4* |
| 7. | Stephen Harris, Tenn. | 6-9 3/4 |
| 10. | Matt Rush, Tenn. | 6-8 SB |
| -- | Blake Sabo, Tenn. | NH |
| Shot put | ||
| 1. | Jeff Chakouian, Ky. | 62-2 1/4* |
| 5. | Tyler Garrett, Tenn. | 57-6 1/4 |
| 10. | Toby Colyer, Tenn. | 51-10 |
| 17. | Jon Smart, Tenn. | 46-9 1/2 |
| Triple jump | ||
| 1. | Walter Davis, LSU | 53-7 3/4** |
| 13. | Rondell Mershon, Tenn. | 48-2 1/2 |
| Tennessee scorers | ||
| Saturday-- | ||
| Lance Jauron | weight throw | 6th, 3 pts. |
| Camron Howard | long jump | 6th, 3 pts. |
| Clint Binder | pole vault | 7th, 2 pts. |
| Steve Pitlik | weight throw | 8th, 1 pt. |
| Sunday-- | ||
| Leonard Scott | 60M dash | 1st, 10 pts. |
| 200M dash | 1st, 10 pts. | |
| Justin Gatlin | 60M dash | 2nd, 8 pts. |
| 200M dash | 2nd, 8 pts. | |
| Sean Lambert | 60M dash | 3rd, 6 pts. |
| 200M dash | 3rd, 6 pts. | |
| Tyler Garrett | shot put | 5th, 4 pts. |
| Marcus Tanner | mile run | 6th, 3 pts. |
| Stephen Harris | high jump | 7th, 2 pts. |
| Brad Leach | 5,000M run | 7th, 2 pts. |
| Karl Jennings | 60M hurdles | 8th, 1 pt. |
| Shannon Wheatley | 400M dash | 8th, 1 pt. |
| 4x400M relay | 4th, 5 pts. | |
| Distance medley relay | 4th, 5 pts. | |
Tennessee high scorer:
Leonard Scott-21.25 pts. (60M dash, 1st, 10 pts.; 200M dash, 1st, 10 pts.; 4x400M dash, 4th, 1.25 pts.). Scott only trailed SEC Indoor Meet high scorer David Kimani (Ala.) by .25 of a point (21.50).
SB - season best
PR - personal record
* - NCAA automatic mark
** - NCAA provisional mark.
