June 8, 2007
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Fatmata Fofanah finished fourth in the women’s 100-meter hurdles final to lead the Georgia Tech track and field teams on the third day of the NCAA Championships at Hornet Stadium.
Fofanah, a senior from Bronx, N.Y., ran a personal-best time of 12.96 in the 100m hurdles to garner All-American honors for the first time in her career. Her time, which is the second fastest in Georgia Tech history, earned five points for the Jackets.
“I am really proud of Fatmata,” said women’s head coach Alan Drosky. “She came in and ran three personal-best times in three consecutive races and you just can’t ask for anything better than that.”
Sophomore Kimery Hern placed ninth in the women’s hammer throw with a personal- and school-best mark of 196 feet, 7 inches. Hern, who also earned All-American honors for the first time, outdid her previous best mark by over three inches. Freshman Samantha Musil placed 12th in the women’s discus with a mark of 163 feet, 7 inches.
“Kimery and Samantha both came in ranked 27th of out 28 competitors and each have done a tremendous job,” added Drosky. “Achieving a personal-best mark at the National Championship, that’s what it is all about.”
Senior Ashlee Kidd crossed the line in a time of 51.78, the third fastest time of the day in the 400-meter semifinal. Kidd has qualified for the final of the 400m, will be run on Saturday at 10:44 a.m. PT.
Junior Jerome Miller finished 11th in the men’s high jump final with a mark of 7 feet, ¼ inches. Miller cleared the bar in his first two attempts but failed to mark at the 7 feet, 1 ½ inch height.
“Jerome did an excellent job today,” said men’s head coach Grover Hinsdale. “He always gives a great effort at every meet.”
Senior James Lemons II qualified for the men’s triple jump final after finishing with the fifth-best mark on the day landing at 51 feet, 10 ½ inches. Freshman Alphonso Jordan failed to qualify for the final after placing 16th with a mark of 50 feet, 6 ¼ inches.
“James was one of the most consistent of all the competitors today,” added Hinsdale. “He should be real excited for tomorrow because I believe the best is yet to come. As for Alphonoso, he has had a tremendous freshman season and I believe in a few years we will hear his name a lot.”
Lemons will continue his quest for a National title tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. PT.
Live results are available at www.flashresults.com for the entire NCAA Track & Field Championships.
