March 28, 2015
THE FLATS — Five Yellow Jackets won their events on the final day Saturday of the Georgia Tech track and field team’s Yellow Jacket Invite. Morgan Jackson (women’s 800m), Andres Littig (men’s 800m), Courtney Naser (3,000-meter steeplechase), Samantha Becker (women’s pole vault) and the women’s 4×400-meter relay team all won their events.
“We had a really good day of competition in all the events across the board,” head women’s track coach Alan Drosky said. “And it was great to see Samantha Becker, Morgan Jackson and Courtney Naser, along with the 4x400m relay team, get wins in their respective events. Mostly though we were just really pleased with how everyone competed today. If we keep bringing that level of effort each week, we’re going to see the results we want later in the season.”
Jackson won the 800 meters in a personal-best time of 2:10.50, followed by Christina Pensock in third (2:12.76). Georgia Tech had the top three finishers in the men’s race with Littig winning (1:50.35), Zane Coburn in second (1:52.31) and Chris Burnett in third (1:52.36). Cole Jackob also finished in fifth with a time of 1:54.37.
Courtney Naser won the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase in a time of 11:40.17.
Samantha Becker also recorded a first-place finish for Tech in the pole vault. Becker cleared the bar at 4.05m (13-03.50) on her third try. Nathan Daniel took second in the men’s pole vault and first among collegiate competitors with a mark of 5.12m (16-09.50).
Georgia Tech’s `A’ 4×400-meter relay team of Jazmyne Taylor, Domonique Hall, Ama Larbi and Christina Pensock won the event in a time of 3:44.47. The men’s `A’ team comprised of Alexander Reese, Littig, Julian Darden and Brandon Lasater placed second 3:19.36.
The 4×100-meter relay team of Larbi, Hall, Taylor and Angelica Henderson placed seventh in a time of 47.83.
Hurdler Spencer Allen took second in the 110-meter high hurdles with a time of 14.33 and Kenya Collins placed fourth (14.45) in the women’s 100-meter hurdles. Ama Larbi took third in the women’s 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:01.71 and teammate Marinice Bauman placed ninth (1:03.59). For the men, Julian Darden placed ninth in the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 56.30.
Sprinter Jazmyne Taylor placed sixth in the 400 meters (55.87) and for the men Alexander Reese crossed the line in 11th (49.29). Jamilah Middlebrooks placed eighth in the women’s 100 meters (12.04) and Zachary Gunnz took seventh for the men (10.85).
In the 200 meters, Middlebrooks placed sixth (24.30) and Gunnz placed third in the men’s race (21.49).
Samantha Kiblinger, Caroline Kissel and Rachel Hammond all finished in the top 10 in the women’s 1,500 meters. Kiblinger crossed the line fifth (4:35.98), Kissel placed seventh (4:36.95) and Hammond took 10th (4:37.92). On the men’s side, Brandon Lasater (fourth; 3:52.48) and Patrick Fleming (sixth; 3:58.72) finished in the top 10.
In the field events, Carissa Tipler placed sixth in the women’s long jump with a distance of 5.84m (19-02.00). Tipler placed fifth in the triple jump with a mark of 12.06m (39-07.00).
For the men’s long jump, Myles McDavid took second overall and first among collegiate competitors with a personal-best mark of 7.39m (24-03.00). McDavid also took 10th in the triple jump (13.44m; 44-01.25).
Ryan Thomas placed second in the triple jump (15.18m; 49-09.75) and Preston Smith took sixth (14.23m; 46-08.75).
Bailey Weiland tied for third in the high jump with a mark of 1.66m (5-05.25).
Three Yellow Jackets competed at the Raleigh Relays in the 10,000 meters. Melissa Fairey placed eighth (34:48.56), Katie Townsend took 12th (35:09.40) and Kelly Meyer placed 15th (35:27.50) out of 38 total competitors.
The Jackets are back in action April 3-4 at the Florida Relays and Tiger Track Classic.
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