May 30, 2003
FAIRFAX, Va. – Georgia Tech sophomore Ian Brewer posted a fifth-place finish in the men’s hammer throw Friday to earn a trip to next month’s NCAA Championships and lead the Jackets on day one of the inaugural NCAA East Region Track and Field Championships at George Mason Stadium.
A sophomore from Saunderstown, R.I., Brewer garnered fifth place with a toss of 203’0.00″ to secure his spot in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, set for June 11-14 in Sacramento, Calif. He becomes just the third Tech thrower to qualify for the national meet. Jacket javelin standout Chris Sinotte earned All-America honors with a 10th-place finish a year ago.
Led by Brewer, Tech’s men sit tied for 10th place with six points.
In Friday’s preliminary races, Jackets advanced to Saturday’s finals in five different events. Senior Bryan Swarn qualified second in the 400 meters with a season-best time of 45.96 to lead the men. He finished second in heat No. 2. Also moving on for the men was junior Brendon Mahoney, who took fourth in the 1500 meters in 3:50.59.
On the women’s side, junior Amandi Rhett qualified sixth in both the 100 and 200 meters. In the 200, she posted a career-best mark of 23.35 to finish second in the second heat. Rhett also took second in her heat of the 100 with a time of 11.60. Also moving on for the women was sophomore Dana Rogers took seventh overall and second in the heat No. 2 of qualifying of the 100-meter hurdles to advance with a time of 13.63.
In relay action, Tech’s women’s 4×100 team of Rogers, freshman Andriane Lapsley, senior Jessica DeFreitas and Rhett checked in at 44.40, which was good for third place behind traditional powers Miami and South Carolina. The Jackets placed first in the first heat.
Additionally, junior Michael Massey took seventh in the high jump with a career-best mark of 6’11.75″, while DeFreitas placed 11th in the long jump (19’9.00″). In other action, senior Sharif Azim took 23rd in the men’s 400 meters (47.76), while sophomore Neil McDonagh was 19th in the 1500 meters (3:51.70). For the women, Lapsley was 18th in the 100 meters in 11.94, and freshman Brandy Depland was 31st in the long jump.
Full meet results are available at www.gmusports.com.
Action resumes Saturday with men’s pole vault at 9:30 a.m., followed by Field Event Session I featuring the women’s hammer and men’s javelin. Track competition opens at 4 p.m. with the women’s 4×100-meter relay in which the Jackets will need a third-place finish to assure themselves of a trip to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The top-five finishers in each individual event and select at-large entries also move on to NCAAs.
-GT-
