Athens, Ga. – Three former Brentwood prep track and field stars, paced by former Ravenwood standout Michael Ayers – are threats to capture the Southeastern Conference individual decathlon title after the first day of competition on the University of Georgia campus.

Ayers, competing in his first year at Georgia, is the first-day leader in the SEC decathlon with a five-event accumulation of 4,122 points. Kevin Lazas, a freshman at Arkansas and former Brentwood High state champion, is fourth overall with 3,934 points. Georgia sophomore Ben Davies, a former Brentwood Academy standout who transferred to Athens last year from the University of Florida, is sixth overall with 3,890 points.

The SEC decathlon continues Friday with the last five events: 110-meter hurdles, discus and javelin throws, pole vault and the 1,500-meter run.

Ayers, Lazas and Davies grew accustomed to competing against each other in high school. On Friday, their competition will come in arguably the biggest meet of their collegiate careers. The winner will have to edge longtime friends and a field that includes two-time reigning SEC champion Gary Horn of Florida.

Ayers, who transferred to Georgia two years ago from the University of Tennessee, was sensational Thursday. Ayers' point total, aided by yearly best in the 100 meters and long jump, represents a personal best after one day of decathlon competition.

Ayers opened the meet by running the fastest 100 meters (10.65) of 11 competitors, then widened his lead with a superb 24'7.75" leap in the long jump. After throwing the shot put 42'3.25" and clearing 6'3.25" in the high jump, Ayers closed the first day with a 100-point lead over Horn on the strength of a quick 400-meter dash (48.99).

Ayers appears on pace to challenge the elite 8,000-point plateau. The SEC championship record is 8,126 points, set 26 years ago by LSU's Mikael Olander.

Lazas and Davies also produced several highlights. Both concluded the opening day activities with career-best point accumulations.

Lazas, second in the SEC indoor heptathlon in February, ranked among the top four performers in the 100 (10.94), shot put (43'5.75") and high jump (6'5.5"), then lost ground to the leaders with just the l0th fastest 400 (51.21).

Davies trails Ayers by 232 points – and Lazas by only 44 points. Davies topped all decathletes in the shot put (45'6.25") and posted solid efforts in the 100 (10.73) and 400 (49.08). A subpar clearance in the high jump (5'10.5") kept Davies from a second place in the overall competition.

All three local competitors have reason to be optimistic entering the Day 2 events. Ayers is a top pole vaulter and has the ability to run well in the high hurdles and 1,500. Lazas can match Ayers in the pole vault and 1,500, and ranks among the top throwers. Davies blends superb talents in the javelin and discus throws with the running ability to place high in the hurdles and 1,500.

Horn, a proven competitor, represents the stiffest competition. He is a top hurdler and 1,500-meter runner and ranks with Lazas and Ayers among the best vaulters.

The competition starts Friday at 2 p.m., CT. The link for live results is http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/042811aap.html.