Arlington, Tx - Chris Gilchrist became the first Bearkat to medal in the Southland Conference Outdoor Track and Field championships Saturday afternoon with a runner-up finish in the long jump. Gilchrist jumped 24 feet, 1.5 inches to finish less than an inch behind first place Tyler Williamson of UTSA who posted a mark of 24 feet, 2.25 inches. Gilchrist was the defending Southland long jump champion.
C. J. Patterson also scored in the long jump with a sixth place mark of 23 feet, 8.75 inches. Henry Jordan (22' 6.5") was 13th in the event and A. J. Edwards (22' 6") was 14th.
In the decathlon, Matt Johnson placed six with 6,470 points. Johnson came into the meet ranked number one in the Southland after a fifth place finish at the Texas Relays. The sophomore was leading the decathlon after seven events but dropped out of the running for a medal when he no-heighted in the pole vault.
Johnson won the decathlon javelin with a throw of 190 feet, was runner-up in the decathlon discus (137' 6") and third in the decathlon 110 meter hurdles (15.01).
Clint Anders (4:06.55) and Travis Kocurek (4:15.68) placed 14th and 15th, respectively, in the 1500 meter prelims.
Scottie Jones was the second place qualifier in the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 14.18 seconds. Jones came into the meet with the second fastest 110 meter hurdles time in the league this year.
Jay Newman had the third fastest qualifying time in the 400 meter hurdles with a mark of 51.98 seconds.
Matt Stephenson and Roger Rueweller both qualified for the finals in the 800 meter run. Stephenson was the number two qualifier with a 1:53.71 clocking and Roger Rueweller finished seventh in the prelims with a 1:53.88 time. Julius Michael (1:56.41) was 15th in the 800.
Brek Christensen placed ninth in the shot put with a throw of 45 feet, 1.5 inches.
The Sam Houston men stand in sixth place going into the final day of the championships Sunday.
Sam Houston State men's finishes at Southland Outdoor Track & Field
