University of Tennessee Athletics
Heptathletes Off to Fast Start in Clemson
January 30, 2004 | Men's Track
Jan. 30, 2004
CLEMSON, S.C. and LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Senior Blake Sabo and freshman Chris Helwick stand second and fourth, respectively, following the first four events of the Clemson Heptathlon Friday night.
"We have a senior and a freshman leading the way for us," head coach Bill Webb said. "It was a pretty decent first day. I'm OK with our position heading into the last three events. Blake Sabo and Chris Helwick had a very solid first day. Alex Hritcu and Kevin Yeager were kind of up and down."
Sabo has his sights set on the 5,500-point mark, the automatic qualifier for the NCAA Indoors. The senior from Carrollton, Ga., found his groove Friday, registering season-best marks in each of the first four events of the heptathlon. Sabo made the biggest strides in the long jump and high jump, finishing second in both. Sabo's 23-4.75 mark down the sand pit in the long jump is nearly two feet better than his previous season best.
Helwick authored a good start to his first collegiate multievent. He stands fourth with 2,887 points. More importantly, Helwick stands a chance of eclipsing the NCAA provisional-qualifying mark of 5,100 points with a solid second day. Helwick closed out the day with strength, clearing a season-best 6-5 to lead all competitors in the high jump. In addition to his high jump leap, Helwick posted season bests in the 60m dash (7.43) and shot put (41-10).
Hritcu stands seventh with 2,798 points, just 89 points in back of Helwick's fourth-place effort. As did Sabo and Helwick, Hritcu posted his best effort of the day in the high jump. Hritcu cleared 6-2.75 to tie for the third-best leap of the day. Hritcu also posted season-best marks in the 60m dash (7.41) and shot put (41-5.75).
Farragut native Yeager stands ninth with 7,773 points in a tightly packed field. Yeager's season-best 22-6.5 measurement in the long jump stood as the day's fourth best.
Three native East Tennesseans went to the line Friday night at Kentucky's McCravy Memorial. Knoxville Central grad Jim Sexton led the Vols with a lifetime-best weight throw effort. Sexton finished fifth with a 57-4.75 mark, bettering his previous lifetime-best mark by a solid two feet.
In the pole vault, Maryville grad Jeff Trembley led Tennessee in Lexington with a fourth-place, 15-5.75 clearance. Knoxville West grad Andy Lane took seventh with a 15-0.25 vault.
The Vols continue with a full slate of competition Saturday. The Tennessee four conclude the Clemson Heptathlon. Meanwhile, the Volunteers will have an enhanced presence in the final day of the McCravy Memorial. Finally, the Volunteer distance medley relay team competes at the adidas Boston Indoor Games Saturday night.
