League titles by Sam Kendricks in the pole vault and the distance medley relay team were among the highlights for Ole Miss at the 2014 Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships, which wrapped up Saturday at the Gilliam Indoor Track & Field Stadium on the campus of Texas A&M. Kendricks, a junior from Oxford, Miss., won his first SEC title after coming oh-so-close in his past four attempts (indoor and outdoor). He and Arkansas’ Andrew Irwin both cleared 18-2, but neither could get over the bar at 18-5.25, and Kendricks claimed victory and 10 team points by having fewer misses. It was the second SEC indoor pole vault title in school history (Baker Vinci, 1985). Kendricks added an SEC title to his career hardware that already includes an NCAA outdoor title and three All-America accolades. “Everybody looks for great things at the SEC Championship,” Kendricks said after his win. “Being able to come out here on this day and make it work is a reward in itself. Being able to make it work in such a way that you win, after coming so close in the past, is more gratifying than I can even put into words.” “Winning an SEC championship was a big deal for Sam,” O’Neal said. “That was something he targeted this year. And there’s not too many accomplishments out there that Sam hasn’t already achieved. He loves representing Ole Miss, and I’m proud of him.” more
