University of Tennessee Athletics
Berry Vaults To Fifth SEC Title
May 15, 2011 | Men's Track
May 15, 2011
Final SEC Outdoor Track & Field Results 
By Eric Trainer, Associate Director of Media Relations
ATHENS, Ga. --Six Tennessee athletes seized the spotlight on the final day of the SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, winning conference titles in their respective events on Sunday afternoon at Georgia's Spec Towns Track.
Joe Berry snared the men's pole vault crown for the Vols, while Annie Alexander (shot put), Liz Costello (5000m), Chanelle Price (800m), Brittany Sheffey (1500m) and Ellen Wortham (400m hurdles) tasted victory for the Lady Vols. For Alexander and Costello, it was their second time at the meet, as they won the discus and 10,000m earlier in the meet, accounting for a total of eight SEC victories achieved by the Big Orange on the weekend.
The individual accomplishments equated to the Lady Vols finishing fifth with 92 points and the Vols placing eighth with 49. It was a two-spot improvement over last season for the UT women, while the men rose one place over 2010. LSU tallied 146 points to win the women's trophy, while Arkansas prevailed over the men's field with 157.50.
"We had some exciting things happen, and it is not necessarily reflected by the team finishes," UT Director of Track & Field J.J. Clark said. "Our teams combined to win eight SEC championships at this meet, and Dentarius Locke was a runner-up in the 100. There were some very good performances, and I am really pleased with the direction the program is going.
"We had eight SEC titles this weekend between our women's and men's programs. We just have to get some more depth to round our team out, and we'll be in good shape."
Berry, a junior in eligibility outdoors, brought his "A game" to the track on the final day, ignoring the swirling winds to claim a league indoor/outdoor sweep and his fifth conference title in the pole vault. His 17-feet, 8 1/2 inch season-best clearance was only a half inch off his 2008 career best and moved him to a tie for number five on the NCAA list this season.
Only six-time SEC champion and 2000 U.S. Olympic silver medalist Lawrence Johnson has won more conference pole vault titles for the Big Orange than Berry, who claimed the 17th outdoor vault crown by a Vol. Redshirt freshman Chase Brannon also got into the scoring spirit, adding four points for a fifth-place and career-best-tying effort of 16-6 3/4.
"Joe's in very, very elite company with Lawrence Johnson," Clark said. "Joe Berry is a great competitor and a proven champion. He was focused and intense, and I am happy he came here and did the job today."
Alexander and Costello ended up as 20-point scorers for the Lady Vols on the weekend. After winning the discus throw on Saturday, Alexander came back Sunday to snare top honors in the shot put with a heave of 57-5. The win was the junior's fifth in conference action and helped her match the sweep of the discus and shot that she also produced as a freshman in 2008. She now has discus crowns in 2008 and 2011, outdoor shot wins in 2008 and 2011, and a 2008 indoor shot victory to her credit.
In the 5000, Costello found herself on the heels of Georgia's Bridget Lyons, just as she did in the 10,000m on Thursday evening. This time, however, the senior didn't wait until the last lap to make her move. With about 1000 meters to go, the now three-time SEC champ moved to the front and closed the deal by kicking with 600 remaining en route to a 16:13.06 clocking. In completing the season indoor/outdoor league sweep, she became the second straight Lady Vol SEC Outdoor 5K winner and fourth overall under Clark's tutelage.
"Since I've been coaching, I don't believe I have ever had two athletes who were double victors," Clark said. "That is outstanding, and that is what you need, especially at the national level, and they are both national-caliber athletes."
While Alexander and Costello tied for the second-most points produced by an individual at the meet, Wortham had the sixth-highest tally with 16.25. The junior collected 10 of those points for her triumph in the 400m hurdles, where she hit the finish line with the No. 1 time in the NCAA this season, a track record and a personal best of 55.70. Wortham once again displayed her talent and fortitude, overcoming a sizeable advantage by favorite Cassandra Tate with a tenacious final 150 meters that impressively propelled her past the LSU standout down the home stretch to UT's first SEC win in this event since Tonya Lee in 1992.
"I don't care where we are, we know Ellen is going to compete," Clark said. "That's her M.O. and her reputation. She's going to put her nose in there, and she's going to get it done.
"Coach Seagrave has done a great job working with her and getting her step pattern down. As a result, Ellen went out and ran a PR in her biggest competition of the year so far."
In the 800 meters, Price pulled off another indoor/outdoor season sweep of conference titles. The junior carved out a season-best 2:04.22 readout while leading wire to wire and cutting through the gusty conditions to UT's fourth straight SEC Outdoor 800m title. She missed last year's meet with an injury but finished third in 2009 as a freshman. Rookie Kianna Ruff, sixth at the SEC Indoor meet, took sixth outdoors as well in a career-best 2:07.97.
"I was very happy for Chanelle," Clark said. "She is really coming into her own, and she looked great today. I think her time has come, and she just needs to keep focused."
The Lady Vols' other victory on Sunday came from Sheffey, who followed a runner-up 1500m effort in 2010 with a victorious 4:25.75 nugget in 2011. Sheffey ran amongst a pack of leaders for 1200 meters until Florida freshman Cory McGee assumed sole control with 300 to go. Sheffey let her pass but didn't panic, responding with her own burst with 120 remaining and shooting around the rookie to give Clark his fourth Lady Vol 1500m champ and third in the past four years. Sheffey returned later in the day to knock out a third-place effort in the 5K in 16:32.98 and wound up as the meet's seventh-highest point generator with 16.
"Sheffey has seen the likes of Sarah Bowman, and has had to run at times with Phoebe Wright and Jackie Areson, so now she is showing that she is the class of the field. I am very happy to see that she has gotten her first SEC individual title and came back in the 5K in a tough double for third place."
Redshirt freshman Dentarius Locke nearly joined Berry as a Vol victor. His 10.12, wind-aided (3.0 mps) outburst in the men's 100-meter dash left him a hundredth of a second shy of glory, as Florida's Terrell Wilks edged him in 10.11. Locke added to that eight-point contribution with six more in the 200 meters. His season-best output of 20.59 earned him third-place and a total of 14 individual points produced in his first SEC Outdoor meet.
Tennessee's men also collected seventh-place finishes in the 800 meters from Peter Sigilai (1:52.91) and in the 4x400m relay, with junior Deaundra Dailey, senior Nathan Grace, junior Joe Franklin and junior Varick Tucker producing a time of 3:12.84.
Other men's scorers included senior Eric Ryan taking eighth in the 1500m (3:54.35) and the men's 4x100m relay unit of sophomore Reggie Juin, Locke, Grace and Dailey placing eighth in 40.82. Freshman Justin Hunter (10th, high jump, 6-11) and senior Chris Rapp (10th, 1500m, 3:57.29) finished just out of scoring range.
The Lady Vols' other point production on the final day came from a pair of relays. They got a sixth-place finish from their 4x100m relay unit, with junior Ashley Harris, Wortham and sophomores Martinique Octave and Kia Jackson motoring around the oval in a season-best 44.73. The 4x400m quartet of Ruff, Wortham, Price and Octave closed the meet with a seventh-place and season-best time of 3:38.62.
The UT men and women will return to Knoxville Sunday night and begin preparations this week for the upcoming NCAA East Preliminary Rounds, which will be held May 26-28 in Bloomington, Ind. That meet serves as a qualifying meet for the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
"We're an NCAA team," Clark said. "The people who scored here and won here can score and win at the NCAA meet. We now have to go there and get it done."
Be sure to follow the Vols and Lady Vols on Twitter @Vol_Track and @LadyVol_Track, and watch the ESPNU recap of the 2011 SEC Outdoor Championships on May 25 from 8 to 10 p.m. Eastern time.
VOLS AT THE SEC OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sunday Results
Pole Vault Final: 1. Joe Berry, 17-8.50/5.40m; 5. Chase Brannon, 16-6.75/5.05m!; NH - Robert Rasnick, F; NH - Tyler Porter, F
100m Final: 2. Dentarius Locke, 10.12w (w: 3.0)
200m Final: 3. Dentarius Locke, 20.59 (w: 2.0)
800m Final: 7. Peter Sigilai, 1:52.91
4x400m Relay Final: 7. Deaundra Dailey / Nathan Grace / Joe Franklin / Varick Tucker, 3:12.84
4x100m Relay Final: 8. Reggie Juin / Dentarius Locke / Nathan Grace / Deaundra Dailey, 40.82
1500m Final: 8. Eric Ryan, 3:54.35; 10. Chris Rapp, 3:57.29.
High Jump Final: 10. Justin Hunter, 6-11/2.11m
Discus Final: 15. Minor Bowens, 140-9/42.92m
Triple Jump Final: 19. Justin Hunter, 47-2.25/14.38m (w: 1.9)
5000m Final: 17. Jake Rainey, 15:01.46; 22. Steve Fassino, 15:08.26; 24. Peter Sigilai, 15:10.70; 26. Daniel Tobin, 15:15.43!; 28. Tom Gilmartin, 15:25.59!; 30. Jordan Chaney, 15:39.58!
Saturday Results
3000m Steeplechase Final: 5. Steve Fassino, 9:06.38; 8. Michael Spooner, 9:16.25; 10. Daniel Tobin, 9:29.49; 11. Tom Gilmartin, 9:32.19!
Long Jump Final: 7. Justin Hunter, 25-7.50/7.81m (w: -1.0); 12. Desmond Brown, 23-10.25/7.27m (w: 0.0)
Javelin Throw Final: 15. Les Gilbert, 181-0/55.17m; 17. Blake Hamilton, 160-7/48.95m
1500m Prelims: Adv. Chris Rapp, 3:50.90p!/2nd, ht. 1 (2nd); Adv. Eric Ryan, 3:55.06p/5th, ht. 2 (12th)
100m Prelims: Adv. Dentarius Locke, 10.25p! (w: 1.5)/2nd, ht. 2 (3rd); 21. Reggie Juin, 10.86p! (w: 0.9)/5th, ht. 3
110m Hurdles Prelims: 9. Terry Benson, 14.60p (w: 0.0)/4th, ht. 2
400m Prelims: 14. Varick Tucker, 47.46p/2nd, ht. 1
Friday Results
10,000m Final: 4. Michael Spooner, 30:40.05; 7. Jake Rainey, 30:54.32!; 11. Chris Bodary, 31:47.34
800m Prelims: Adv. Peter Sigilai, 1:50.83p/3rd, ht. 1 (8th); 10. Joe Franklin, 1:51.29p/3rd, ht. 2; 13. Ford Bell, 1:53.09p/4th, ht. 1; 18. Jordan Chaney, 1:54.19p/6th/ht. 2; 22. Breon Dixon, 1:55.47p/5th, ht. 4
200m Prelims: Adv. Dentarius Locke, 20.61pw (w: 2.2)/2nd, ht. 1; 16. Nathan Grace, 21.29pw (w: 2.8)/5th, ht. 1; 26. Jarael Nelvis, 22.77pw (w: 2.2)/6th, ht. 5
400m Hurdles Prelims: NM - Terry Benson, DQ
Thursday Results
Hammer Throw Final: NM - Drew Thomas, F
LADY VOLS AT THE SEC OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sunday Results
Shot Put Final: 1. Annie Alexander, 57-5/17.50m; 16. Laquoya Kelly, 41-7.25/12.68
400m Hurdles Final: 1. Ellen Wortham, 55.70!
1500m Final: 1. Brittany Sheffey, 4:25.75
800m Final: 1. Chanelle Price, 2:04.22; 6. Kianna Ruff, 2:07.97!
5000m Final: 1. Liz Costello, 16:13.06; 3. Brittany Sheffey, 16:32.98; 36. Elizabeth Altizer, 18:41.56!; 37. Elizabeth Tiller, 19:04.80; DNF - Amber Zimmerman
4x100m Relay Final: 6. Ashley Harris / Ellen Wortham / Martinique Octave / Kia Jackson, 44.73
4x400m Relay Final: 7. Kianna Ruff / Ellen Wortham / Chanelle Price / Martinique Octave, 3:38.62
Javelin Final: 12. Holly Kane, 126-9/38.64m; 14. Katherine Dresch, 116-7/35.55m.
Triple Jump Final: 15. Allison Outerbridge, 38-2.25/11.64m (w: 0.3)
Saturday Results
Women's Discus Final: 1. Annie Alexander, 184-5/56.22m; 9. Jessie Harrison, 147-5/44.95m
Long Jump Final: 4. Ellen Wortham, 19-11.75/6.09mw (w: 2.1); 18. Kia Jackson, 18-9.75/5.73mw (w: 3.4)
Pole Vault Final: 6. Linda Hadfield, 13-1.75/4.01m!ufr
1500m Prelims: Adv. Brittany Sheffey, 4:19.49p/1st, ht. 1 (1st); 26. Amber Zimmerman, 4:41.21p!/9th, ht. 2; 27. Elizabeth Altizer, 4:41.21p!, 9th, ht. 1; 34. Kelsey Kane, 4:47.63p!/12th, ht. 2; 38. Andrea Ferri, 5:14.96p/13th, ht. 3
100m Hurdles Prelims: 15. Bianca Blair, 14.03p (w: 0.7)/4th, ht. 1
100m Prelims: 17. Kia Jackson, 11.84p (w: -0.1)/6th, ht. 2; 20. Ashley Harris, 12.10p (w: -0.1)/7th, ht. 2
400m Prelims: 18. Martinique Octave, 55.48p/4th, ht. 5
Friday Results
10,000m Final: 1. Liz Costello, 33:42.96mrfr
Hammer Throw Final: 9. Laquoya Kelly, 175-2/53.39m; 10. Jessie Harrison, 167-9/51.15m
800m Prelims: Adv. Chanelle Price, 2:04.83p/1st, ht. 3 (1st); Adv. Kianna Ruff, 2:08.83p!/2nd, ht. 4 (7th); 10. Nijgia Snapp, 2:10.17p!/4th, ht. 4; 13. Brittney Jackson, 2:11.19p/3rd, ht. 1; 14. Ramzee Fondren, 2:11.34p/5th, ht. 4; 18. Ty-Vonna Johnson, 2:12.37p/5th, ht. 2; 19. Elizabeth Altizer, 2:14.64p!/5th, ht. 3; 24. Kim White, 2:17.72p!/6th, ht. 1
400m Hurdles Prelims: Adv. Ellen Wortham, 57.75p/1st, ht. 1 (2nd); 11. Bianca Blair, 1:00.69p/5th, ht. 1; 19. Kirstyn Sweeney, 1:03.87p/6th, ht. 3; 20. Jená Murphy, 1:05.28p/5th, ht. 4
200m Prelims: 11. Martinique Octave, 23.67p! (w: 1.0)/2nd, ht. 2; 20. Brittany Jones, 24.14p (w: 0.5)/4th, ht. 4; 25. Kia Jackson, 24.34p (w: -1.2)/4th, ht. 1; 28. Ashley Harris, 24.58p (w: -1.2), 5th, ht. 1
Thursday Results
None
! - personal record, DNF - did not finish, DQ - disqualified, f - foul, fr - facility record, FS - false start, h - heat, m - meters, mr - meet record, NM - no mark registered, NH - no height registered, p - preliminary round, sr - school record, ufr - UT freshman record, w - wind-aided
