Weaver leads decathlon, Chesondin fourth in 10k at SEC

LEXINGTON – The lone final on day one for Arkansas had Timothy Chesondin placing fourth in the 10,000m with a time of 30:21.08 after falling with three laps remaining.

Chesondin scored five team points and the Razorbacks are currently tied for ninth place with Florida. Ole Miss leads the team scoring with 31 points, followed by Alabama with 26.

The first day of the decathlon has Marcus Weaver in first place with 3,988 points while Cooper Williams is currently in sixth place with 3,740 points. Runner-up to Weaver with 3,964 points is Maximus Tucker of Georgia while Auburn’s John Murray is third at 3,943.

Weaver moved into the lead after finishing the first day with a career best of 50.46 in the 400m for 794 points. Weaver topped the field of nine in the high jump with a clearance of 6-7 (2.01) for 813 points.

Earlier events had Weaver running 11.29 in the 100m (797), long jumping (6.96) for 804 points, and registering a mark of (14.85) in the shot put for 780 points. Williams finished as runner-up in two disciplines – long jump with a leap of 23-2.75 (7.08) for 833 points and high jump with a 6-4.75 (1.95) for 758 points.

In qualifying races, the Razorbacks advanced four into final positions for the 200m and 800m.

Rivaldo Marshall and Tyrice Taylor both qualified for the 800m final. Taylor won his section in 1:48.03 while Marshall was third best overall with a 1:47.52.

Jordan Anthony and Connor Washington both set career best times to advance in the 200m.

Anthony won section 2 in 20.10 (wind 0.4) to better his previous best of 20.35. Anthony moves to No. 3 on the UA all-time list behind Wallace Spearmon, Jr. (19.89) and Lance Lang (20.04). Anthony was second best overall in the prelims behind a 19.92 for Auburn’s Makanakaishe Charamba.

Washington posted a time of 20.32 (wind 0.2) to place third in the sixth and final section, earning the ninth best time overall to secure a spot in the final by 0.003 of a second. Washington, who improved his previous best of 20.39, ranks equal No. 7 on the UA all-time list with J-Mee Samuels.

Also racing in the 200m prelims for the Razorbacks were Jonah Vigiil (20.74), Tevijon Williams (20.79), and Kevin Bello (20.89 PR).