Goggins Finishes Fifth In Decathlon At USATF Region III Junior Olympics
7/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
July 11, 2008
ROCK HILL, S.C. - USC Upstate track and field standout Perrish Goggins (Columbia, S.C./C.A. Johnson Prep) finished fifth in the young male decathlon at the USATF Region III Junior Olympics on Friday at South Pointe High School, two slots away from qualifying for the USATF Junior Olympics National meet.
"It was a good learning experience for him and he was going up against some really good athletes," Upstate head track and field coach Jimmy Stephens said. "He's still really fresh and new to the decathlon. We saw the areas we have to work on for next year. In the fall, we are really going to have him work to be the better in all areas. I am happy with his effort, though. He went out and tried hard and that's all you can ask for."
Goggins will now turn his focus to the high jump at the Region III meet on Saturday at 3 p.m. If he finishes in the top three of the high jump, he will qualify for the USATF Junior Olympic National Championships July 22-27 at Burke Stadium in Omaha, Neb.
Goggins, who held a 69-point lead in the event after the first day, was bothered by tendonitis in his left knee and turf toe during the event. Still, he was able to set a personal-best in the pole vault on the second day, clearing 10-4. He also posted a personal-best in javelin with a throw of 122-6. Running the event for just the second time, Goggins finished with 5,250 points, behind Jerry Blanton (6,221), Kenneth Rowland (5,759), Jermol Dix (5,543) and John Morris (5,345).
