April 17, 2009
Junior Steve Marcelle won the shot put and senior Jerome Miller took the title in the high jump to lead the Georgia Tech track & field teams on day two of the 2009 ACC Outdoor Championships Friday in Coral Gables, Fla.
Marcelle, who placed-second in the shot put the previous two years, took the title Friday with a mark of 60’6.75″. He defeated the field by over four-inches on the day, while earning All-ACC honors for the third-straight year. Senior Andy Powlen also picked up All-ACC honors in the shot put, as his distance of 59’4.75″ was good enough to place third, and easily secure a ticket to the NCAA East Regionals.
It was also a momentous day for Miller, who won his first ever outdoor high jump title with a clearance of 6’11.75″. The Stafford, Va. native earns his fifth All-ACC honor in the high jump and added 10 more points for the men’s side.
It was busy day for junior Alphonso Jordan who is competing in three events for the Jackets at the meet. Jordan placed fifth in the long jump with a personal-best and NCAA Regional qualifying mark of 24’3.75″ while picking up four points on the day. Jordan also qualified for the finals of the 110 meter hurdles, as his time of 14.17 was the third-fastest of all competitors in the prelims.
Along with the 110 meter hurdle finals, he will compete in the triple jump on Saturday. Jordan has now qualified for the NCAA East Regionals in all three events. Senior David Ford also added a personal-best on the day, as he clocked a 14.35 in the 110m hurdle prelims, qualifying him for Saturday’s final.
Senior E.C. Gibbs locked up a spot in the finals of the 3,000 meter run, as his time of 3:51.59 was the second-fastest among competitors in the prelims.
On the women’s side, Tech received the largest amount of points – 12.50 to be exact — from a trio of high jumpers. Freshman Terri Ann Grant placed second with a clearance of 5’8.75″, Freshman Bianca Stewart placed fifth with a height of 5’7″ and junior Tiffany Chavis placed eighth at 5’5″. Grant earns her first-ever All-ACC honor.
Freshman Bailey Wagner tallied three more points for the Tech women in the shot put as she placed sixth with a distance of 48’2″. Junior Tiffany Grant will run in the finals of the 400 meter dash Saturday, as her time of 55.84 in the prelims was the final qualifying spot.
The Tech men are currently in fifth-place with 36 points, while the women are in seventh with 28.50. Competition resumes Saturday with the women’s discus throw, triple jump and pole vault at 1 p.m.
