FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Things went smoothly for Jangy Addy at the SEC Indoor track and field championships.

Addy, the defending conference champion, turned in a series of solid performances in the heptathlon Friday at the Tyson Track Center. Addy ended the first day with 3,421 points, nearly 300 points ahead of Florida's Michael Morrison.

Repeating as champion is important to Addy and the Vols, but equally important is getting qualified for the NCAA championships. Addy needs to score 5,650 points to automatically qualify.

"Everything was pretty solid," Addy said. "I can't complain too much. We're just trying to get qualified for nationals. All of my marks were pretty decent."

Addy was a bit better than decent, at least compared to the field. He won the first three events - the 60-meter dash, the long jump and the shot put - scoring at least 838 points in each.

He cleared 6 feet, 5 inches in the high jump to earn another 767 points.

Addy, the nation's leader in the 60 hurdles, has that event to start today's final three disciplines.

"I'm just trying to focus on each individual event and perform in them," Addy said.

UT coach Bill Webb said his team captain took care of business.

"As long as he's healthy, he looks good to me," Webb said. "He had a good day. He did what we wanted. He did what he needed to do.

"He was very solid. We just needed to get a mark, a solid effort in everything."

UT freshman Michael Ayers was in fourth place after the first day with 2,847 points. Sophomore Brad Holtz dropped out of the heptathlon after failing to post a fair mark in the long jump.

Ayers scored well in the 60 with a time of 7.13 and in the high jump with a clearance of 6-5. In between, he struggled in the long jump and shot put.

"He's trying to compete," Webb said. "He had a very average shot, otherwise he would be in very good position. Two events good, two events a little bit off."

Webb wasn't surprised Ayers would struggle in his first SEC competition.

He was pleased that Ayers responded to his shot put - which scored just 559 points for a distance of 36 feet, 9 1/2 inches - with a good high jump performance.

"It always happens the first time around," Webb said. "It's a good start."

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.