March 29, 2002
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Paced by a NCAA provisional performance by junior Bryan Swarn in the 400 meters and a pair of school records in the women’s throws, the Georgia Tech men and women’s track and field teams enjoyed a strong opening day at the 59th annual Florida Relays. The meet is being held at the University of Florida’s Percy Beard Track Stadium.
Swarn was victorious in the 400 meters, clocking a season-best and NCAA provisional mark of 46.23. Junior Sharif Azim was seventh, while freshman Brian Ford finished 13th.
Senior Angela Levens’ toss of 170’09.00″ in the hammer throw broke the record she set earlier this season at the Alabama Relays by over nine feet. She placed sixth in the event. Classmate Dana Hall eclipsed her own school record in the shot put with a toss of 47’04.25″ to place second. The women’s 4×200 meter relay placed seventh in a school record time of 1:36.86.
The men also got a win from senior Joe Stegall, who registered a time of 3:51.80 in the 1500 meters to place first. Freshman Alex Berardi cleared a career-best 15’05.00″ in the pole vault to place fifth, while junior Chris Crawley jumped a season-best 48’01.25″ in the triple jump to place fourth.
Senior Aaron Sink went a season-best 53.08 in the 400-meter hurdles to place tenth.
Other strong performances on the women’s side came from senior Nicole Campbell, who was second in the 800 meters (2:08.90), and sophomore Amandi Rhett, who posted season bests in the 100 meters (11.60) and 200 meters (24.21). She placed third in the 100 and eighth in the 200.
The Jackets also placed well in the 100-meter hurdles, led by senior Alisha McClinton, who placed fourth in a season-best time of 13.71. Seniors Mishanta Reyes and Tosan Osaigbovo placed eighth and ninth, respectively.
Senior Sara Pardue was eighth in the 800, while junior Jessica DeFreitas was 10th in the 100.
Sophomore Renee Metivier and junior Katie Griffin are competing at the Stanford Invitational, which will conclude late Friday night.
The Jackets return to action in Gainesville Saturday, as several members of the squad will compete in the invitational field events, as well as many relay events. Sophomore Brendon Mahoney will compete in the 1500 meters at the Stanford Invitational.
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