STARKVILLE, Miss. – With the 2016 indoor track and field season well underway, the Mississippi State heptathletes will see action intheir first multi competition of the season on Wednesday at the Samford Multi Invitational.
“This is a great meet to see where these multi athletes are currently in the season,” MSU coach Steve Dudley said. “We saw success last year from different athletes at this meet and we hope to continue it this week. These athletes have all worked hard and we hope to see them triumph over the course of the indoor season.”
Five Bulldogs are set to compete at the meet, including the 2015 Samford Multi Invitational winner and MSU school record holder Jaquarius Wilson. Wilson scored 5,068 points last season to claim the victory. In the meet, the junior won the long jump with a leap of 22-06.25 and the 60m hurdles with atime of 8.52.
Finishing third in the event last year was MSU junior Zachary Taylor. The Rock Hill, S.C., native won the heptathlon 60m dash with a time of 7.10 before finishing first in the 1000m run with a time of 2:38.18 to earn third overall. Taylor competed in the heptathlon once during his sophomore campaign before appearing in the decathlon at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Sophomore Willie Reed will compete in the heptathlon for the first time in his MSU career. Reed has seen action in both meets of the 2016 season so far. Also representing the Maroon and White this weekend will be Jesse Austin, and lacing up for his first meet as a Bulldog is freshman Gralyn Jones.
The heptathlon, which consists of the 60m dash, the long jump, the shot put, the 60m hurdles, the pole vault and the 1000m run, willbegin at 12 p.m. CT Wednesday at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
For more information on the MSU track and field teams visit HailState.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@HailStateTF).