Dec. 5, 2001
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech men and women’s track and field teams will open their seasons Friday at the Wildcat Speed Meet at the University of Kentucky’s Nutter Field House.
Action is slated to begin at 2:30 p.m. with the start of the high jump, weight throw, pole vault and long jump. Running events will begin at 4 p.m. with the women’s 60-meter hurdles. The meet will conclude with the 4×400 relay.
“We look at this meet as a kind of ‘where we’re at’ competition,” said Tech men’s head coach Grover Hinsdale. “We are not easing back in our training in any way. We will do it slightly, but we are going up there to have a good performance with all the young men we take up there.”
Tech’s distance runners, who recently completed the 2001 cross country season, will not compete, as they are easing back into training following a short break. However, All-ACC performer Amy Dock, who redshirted the cross country season, is slated to compete in the mile.
“For the rest of them, who have been training all fall, it gives them something to look forward to,” said women’s head coach Alan Drosky. “They’ve been working on different, technical aspects of their events. Some of the younger kids may be changing some of the things that they did in high school, so it will be good to see where we are.”
The Tech coaching staff is excited to see how the newcomers adjust to collegiate action.
“It will give an opportunity for several newcomers to compete, find out what a college competition is all about and for us to find out where they are and see where we need to go from here,” said Hinsdale.
“We expect some good performances,” added Drosky. “They have worked very hard this fall, and it’s always nice to lace up the spikes and compete.”
Tech’s men’s squad is expected to be led by a quartet of returning All-Americans: Sharif Azim, Brendon Mahoney, Aaron Sink and captain Bryan Swarn. On the women’s side, Tech should be led by 2001 NCAA cross country runner-up Renee Metivier, ACC long jump champion Mishanta Reyes, as well as returning All-Americans Sara Pardue and Nicole Campbell.
Following this meet, the Yellow Jackets will not compete until the Kentucky Invitational on January 12. -GT-
