May 11, 2002

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack track and field team opened the 2002 Southland Conference Outdoor Championships in strong fashion Friday afternoon. The SFA men hold a 12-6 advantage over second-place Northwestern State after the first day of competition.

Sophomore Nathan Flores (Kingwood, Texas) put SFA out in front with his individual title in the 10,000 meters with his time of 31:29.54. Junior Amlesom Teklai (Alexandria, Va.) added to the Lumberjacks advantage with his seventh-place finish in the event. Teklai crossed the finish line with a time of 34:00.92.

Three Lumberjacks had a strong first day in the decathlon. Sophomore Justin Connell (Troup, Texas) won the 400-meter dash (48.93) and finished second in the 100-meter dash (11.01). Sophomore Jonathan Roberson (Mart, Texas) was third in the 400-meter dash with his time of 49.87. He also recorded a fourth-place finish in the shot put (38-11.00). Senior Matt Seale (Anahuac, Texas) improved his position with a second-place finish in the high jump, clearing a height of 6-4.75.

The only Ladyjack in competition Friday was freshman-heptathlete Lindsey Bryson (Mansfield, Texas). Bryson recorded seventh-place finishes in both the 200-meter dash (27.19) and the shot put (29-9.50).

SFA returns to action Saturday with the conclusion of the decathlon and the heptathlon. The field events get underway at 1 p.m., with the men's long jump finals. The track events are slated to begin at 4 p.m., with the women's 1,500-meter preliminaries.

-SFA-