Jan. 30, 2016
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Georgia Tech track & field team completed their first day of competition at Vanderbilt on Friday night, and a school record was broken in the process.
Bria Matthews, a freshman from Morrow, Ga., set the school record with a long jump of 6.40 / 21’ 0”. The accomplishment comes a week after setting a Birmingham CrossPlex record in the triple jump, which earned her the honor of being named the Women’s Field Co-Performer of the Week by the ACC.
Tech received a top finish from the men in the 4000m DMR with a team consisting of Nico Metzler, AZ Reese, Andres Littig and Chris Burnett. The group finished with a time of 9:58.03.
The Jackets also received a solid performance from Nahom Solomon, who finished third in the 5000m race with a time of 14:42.22. It was his first time to run the event indoors.
Head men’s coach Grover Hinsdale pointed to pole vaulter Nikita Kirillov as someone whose performance stood out.
“I was pretty pleased with tonight’s results across the board,” Hinsdale said. “However, I was especially pleased with the performance of Nikita Kirillov. After 11 months of coming back from a serious heel injury, he is starting to get his confidence and form back. I am very proud of how steadfast he has been throughout his recovery.”
Kirillov finished 11th in the pole vault with a mark of 5.01.
Zachary Gunnz finished 14th in the men’s 200m with a time of 21.89, just two hundredths of a second off his indoor personal best. Jamilah Middlebooks finished 19th in the women’s 200m with a time of 25.21 in a crowded field. The Jackets received another solid performance from Mary Prouty, who finished 3rd in the women’s 5000m with a time of 17:41.12. It was Prouty’s first time competing in the event while at Tech.
“It was a really good first day for the women, highlighted by Bria’s outstanding effort in the long jump,” head women’s coach Alan Drosky said. “She’s doing a great job, and she’s raising the bar for the team each week. The women are responding well and we had a number of other personal bests today.”
Saturday’s events will begin at 10 a.m. ET.
Georgia Tech’s Top Finishes
Men
Long Jump: Myles McDavid – 7.18, 10th
Pole Vault: Nikita Kirillov – 5.01, 11th
200m: Zachary Gunnz – 21.89, 14th
4000m DMR: Metzler, Reese, Littig, Burnett – 9:58.03, 1st
5000m: Nahom Solomon – 14:42.22, 3rd
Women
High Jump: Bailey Weiland – 1.66, 7th
Long Jump: Bria Matthews – 6.40, 2nd
200m: Jamilah Middlebrooks – 25.21, 19th
4000m DMR: Anderson, Innis, Kiblinger, Stephens – 12:01.40, 2nd
5000m: Mary Prouty – 17:41.12, 3rd
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Twitter (@GT_trackNfield) and Facebook (Georgia Tech Track & Field/Cross Country) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.
