THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech track and field teams will split the weekend of competition at the Tiger Paw Invite and Music City Challenge. The Tiger Paw Invite will be hosted by Clemson and the Music City Challenge will be hosted by Vanderbilt. Both meets are set to take place on Friday, Feb. 10 and Saturday, Feb. 11.
Tech has traveled at Clemson three times this season and recently competed at the Vanderbilt Invite around the end of January.
Last weekend, the Jackets competed at the South Carolina Invite where multiple athletes recorded top three performances in both track and field events.
Charlie Smith was the standout on the first day as he championed the men’s mile. Several of his teammates crossed the finish line right behind him with personal-best times.
On day two, Jamir Gibson placed second in both the men’s shot put and weight throw invite. In the women’s high jump, Shanty Papkosta recorded a second-place mark and remained a consistent top finisher for Tech. Taylor Grimes placed third in the women’s long jump invite and Omar Arnaout took home second place in the men’s high jump open.
On the TFRRS NCAA DI Qualifying List, Papakosta is currently tied at No. 36 for her high jump mark at the Clemson Opener. Sheleah Harris is ranked at No. 31 for her 60-meter time at the Clemson Opener and the women’s distance medley relay team that competed at the Bob Pollock Invite is ranked at No. 32.
On the men’s side, Tech’s DMR team that placed second at the Bob Pollock Invite sits at No. 20 in the NCAA. Cameron O’Neal ranks 26th for his mark in the long jump at the Vanderbilt Invite and John Watkins is ranked at No. 46 for his triple jump mark from the Bob Pollock Invite. Gibson currently ranks 30th in the shot put and 40th in the weight throw.
In the most recent USTFCCCA South Regional Rankings, the men are ranked 13th and the women are ranked 14th.
Participating Collegiate Teams at Tiger Paw Invite: No. 22 Auburn, Baylor, Clemson, No. 16 Duke, Eastern Michigan, No. 9/13 Georgia, Georgia Tech, Guelph, No. 19 Harvard, Kansas, Kentucky, No. 12 Louisville, Maryland, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Mississippi State, North Carolina A&T, No. 4 NC State, Ohio State, No. 18 Oklahoma, Penn, Pittsburgh, No. 24 South Carolina, No. 7/8 Southern California, Syracuse, No. 6/12 Tennessee, No. 4/1 Texas, No. 9 Texas A&M, UCF, Villanova, No. 19/Virginia and No. 11 Virginia Tech
Participating Collegiate Teams at Music City Challenge: No. 14/6 Alabama, UAB, Arkansas State, No. 22 Auburn, Austin Peay, Ball State, Belmont, Butler, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Cumberland (Tenn.), No. 16 Duke, East Tennessee State, Eastern Kentucky, FIU, No. 9/13 Georgia, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Illinois State, Indiana State. Kent State, Lipscomb, No. 12 Louisville, McNeese State, Memphis, Meridian CC, MIT, Miami (Fla.), Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, Missouri, Murray State, North Carolina, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Ohio State, No. 23/17 Ole Miss, Penn State, Rider, Southern Illinois, Southern Mississippi, No. 6/12 Tennessee, Tennessee State, No. 3/15 Texas Tech, Troy, Tulane, Vanderbilt and No. 11 Virginia Tech
*ACC Competitors in Bold
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