UGA teammates Ben Davies, left, and Michael Ayers, compete in the SEC Track and Field Championships. Photo by Steve Colquitt, UGA Athletics.

RHS alum Ayers earns fourth place
Brentwood Home Page news reports
ATHENS, Ga. – Two former Brentwood prep stars competing in the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Kevin Lazas and Michael Ayers, finished second and fourth, respectively, in the SEC decathlon that concluded Friday at the University of Georgia.

Lazas, a freshman at Arkansas who helped Brentwood High School to consecutive state track titles in 2009-10, secured a spot in the upcoming NCAA Outdoor Championships by accumulating 7,703 points to finish second behind eventual winner Gray Horn of Florida.

Kevin Lazas throws the shot put at the SEC decathlon championships. Photo by Steve Colquitt, UGA Athletics.

Ayers, the Georgia junior who owned the decathlon lead after the first day of competition, posted a season-best performance, finishing with 7,647 points, just seven points behind third-place finisher and Bulldog teammate Tommy Barrineau.

A third competitor in the 10-event decathlon with local ties, former Brentwood Academy standout and Georgia sophomore Ben Davies, struggled Friday and did not place among the top eight.

Lazas’ career-best performance also established a new University of Arkansas school record. He also enters the NCAA Championships as the nation’s top freshman decathlete.

Fourth overall after five events on Thursday, Lazas responded with strong performances in the discus and javelin throws pole vault and 1,500-meter run to claim the runner-up finish. After opening Friday with an average effort in the 110-meter hurdles (15.33), Lazas had the third longest discus toss (136’3”), and then produced a career-best 16’8.75” clearance in the pole vault to threaten Ayers’ hold on second place. Lazas passed his former Ravenwood rival in the javelin with a throw of 184’0”. In the concluding 1,500, he secured second place with a 4:45.98 clocking.

Ayers, who finished fourth in the 2009 NCAA decathlon participating for the University of Florida, came away with his third All-SEC performance. The former three-time state decathlete champion while at Ravenwood lost his overall lead early Friday after a 15.34 effort in the hurdles and 127’10” discus throw. He responded with a 15’9” clearance in the vault, 166’5” javelin throw and 4:49.19 effort in the 1,500.

It was a disappointing Friday for Davies, who seemed ready to compete for a top three finish only to be undone in the pole vault. After strong efforts in the hurdles (15.11) and discus (137’7”), Davies failed to add points in the pole vault when he missed three attempts at 14’1.25”. With little chance to score team points after the vault mishap, Davies did not participate in the javelin or 1,500.

Davies is expected to compete Saturday in the individual javelin where he owns a season best throw of 205’2”. Ayers also will return, competing Sunday in the individual pole vault.