May 9, 2008

HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Sophomore throwers Matt Langdon and Frednisha Marshall earned All-Southland Conference honors Friday afternoon in the opening day of action at the SLC Outdoor Championships in Huntsville, Texas. While Langdon and Marshall got SFA out to a quick start in the throws, the SFA multi-event athletes are in strong contention to bring home multiple conference honors in the decathlon and heptathlon.

Langdon recorded a school-record throw of 189-4 in the hammer throw to finish second overall. The mark was an NCAA regional qualifier, and set a new school record. Marshall followed suit with a throw of 172-9 to finish second in the women's hammer throw.

Despite the honors by Langdon and Marshall, it was a freshman who stole the show Friday morning. Ebbonye Johnson set personal bests in all four events of the heptathlon events to head into Saturday's round with the overall lead (2,977 points). Johnson is currently ahead of Texas State' Danete Wright by 35 points. Johnson won the 200-meter dash, and finished second in the high jump to gain control.

Riley, a 2008 All-SLC indoor selection in the pentathlon, is currently third overall with a score of 2,932, only 10 points behind Wright. Riley won the 100-meter hurdles, and finished second behind Johnson, in the 200-meter dash.

On the men's side, the 'Jacks currently have three athletes in the top five heading into the final day of competition in the decathlon. Sophomore Aaron Harlan has staked claim to a 10-point lead after the first day. Harlan scored 3,891 points Friday, while classmate Chris Jones is in third with 3,675 points. Freshman Jacques Neyrey is fifth overall with a score of 3,468. All three Lumberjacks won an individual event during the day, as Harlan won the 100-meter dash, Jones took the shot put and Neyrey garnered the top spot in the high jump.

Freshman Adam Wolfe recorded a season-best throw of 192-3, to finish fifth in the javelin. The men's women's 10,000 meter runs had not finished by press time. The finals of the decathlon and heptathlon will begin Saturday morning.

-SFA-