March 29, 2003
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Freshman All-American Chaunte Howard cleared a school record and placed first in the Invitational high jump, and sophomore Ian Brewer surpassed his own Tech mark in the hammer throw Saturday as the Georgia Tech men’s and women’s track and field teams wrapped up a successful trip to the Florida Relays.
Howard jumped 6’0.50″ to win her second high jump competition of the young outdoor season and break the former school record of 5’11.75″ set by Natasha Alleyne in 1991. Former Tech great Lynn Houston finished second in the event.
Brewer eclipsed his own school record with a toss of 198’6.00″ in the Invitational hammer throw. He finished seventh in the event and qualified for the NCAA East Regional Championships with his performance.
Tech added to its list of regional qualifiers with a time of 3:09.87 from the men’s 4×400-meter relay team of Sharif Azim, Brian Ford, Bryan Swarn and Matt Trester. The Jackets finished seventh in a very competitive field.
Senior Brian Fraser, who finished fifth in the triple jump with a mark of 50’9.25″, and junior Michael Massey, who placed sixth in the high jump by clearing 6’10.75″, both improved on existing regional qualifying marks.
Other strong individual showings came from sophomore Shanta Smith, who was second in the triple jump (42’7.00″), senior Jessica DeFreitas, who finished sixth in the long jump (19’4.00″) and sophomore Zeb Sion, who was sixth in the shot put (57’5.75″). Jonathan Spillman had a season-best toss of 53’5.50″.
The men’s distance medley relay team also had a strong performance, finishing fourth in 9:54.82. Junior All-American Brendon Mahoney led off the event and was followed by Nate Smiga, David Schmidt and Neil McDonagh. Additionally, the women’s shuttle hurdle squad of Melanie Waits, Dana Rogers, Andriane Lapsley and Howard finished third in 55.58.
In other relay action, Rogers and Lapsley joined DeFreitas and Amandi Rhett on the eighth-place 4×100 team, which posted a mark of 45.89. Tech’s men’s 4×100 was 19th in 42.46, while the women’s 4×400 finished 26th in 3:57.68.
Next time out, the Jackets host their first home meet of the season, the Yellow Jacket Invitational, set for Saturday, April 5, at George C. Griffin Track.
-GT-
