After what was arguably the most successful year in Lion sports history, 10 Southeastern student-athletes looked to add onto the success by competing in the NCAA East Preliminaries. Seven men from the indoor and outdoor Southland Conference Championship team and three women traveled to the competition in Jacksonville, Florida representing the Lions.
Day one of the competition saw some impressive finishes by the Lions. Sophomore thrower, Misha Frazier, set a new personal best with a toss of 185 feet, one inch in the women’s hammer throw. Frazier would place the highest of all her teammates that day by placing 22nd in the women’s hammer throw out of a field of 46.
The Southeastern men’s side also fared well on day one. Senior Brandon Daniels placed 25th in the men’s high jump with a mark of 23 feet, 9.5 inches. Daniels also competed in the men’s 100 meter dash and placed 31st after a time of 10.70 seconds. Junior Derek Hampton fought his way to a 26th place finish in the men’s javelin throw, thanks to a throw of 203 feet, 23 inches.
Senior hurdler, Abram Taylor, competed in the men’s 110 hurdles on the second day of prelims. Taylor finished with a time of 14.36 seconds to place 40th in the event.
The Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year, Brett Olsen, competed in day two of the prelims. Olsen posted a mark of 205 feet, .23 inches in the men’s hammer throw. The throw placed Olsen 15th in the event. Jonathan Kinchen, a fellow teammate of Olsen on the Southeastern squad, placed 26th in the men’s hammer toss of 199 feet, 4.12 inches.
Day three of prelims featured more strong showings from the Southeastern throwers. Olsen competed in his second event of the prelims by throwing in the men’s discus event. The junior placed 26th after a throw of 175 feet, .39 inches. Senior Jeffrey Milliron, who earned a first team All-Southland Conference nod for shotput and discus, also competed in the men’s discus throw for the Lions. Milliron finished with a 170 feet, .77 inches throw to finish 30th in the event.