May 29, 2009
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Lifted by senior Jerome Miller’s regional high jump record, four members of the Georgia Tech men’s and women’s track & field teams posted top-five finishes on day one of the NCAA East Region Championships Friday in Greensboro, N.C.
Miller, along with senior Kimery Hern, junior Steve Marcelle and sophomore Joanna Wright all qualified for the NCAA Championships, held June 10-13 in Fayetteville, Ark., with their top-five finishes.
Miller’s East Region record came at a clearance of 7’3.25″, as he won the high jump and advances to his third NCAA Championships, first since the 2007 season. Though not a school-record, the Stafford, Va. native broke the regional record of 7’2.25″ set by Princeton’s Justin Frick in 2008. Miller has now tied the Tech outdoor record for the second-straight meet after breaking it at the Seminole Twilight Invitational earlier this season.
Also posting a record performance on the day was sophomore Joanna Wright, who cleared a Tech record height of 13’1.75″ in the pole vault while placing fourth. Wright previously set the record of 13’1.50″ just two-weeks ago at the Georgia Tech Invitational.
In the men’s shot put, junior Steve Marcelle continued his outstanding outdoor season with a record distance of 62’5″ in the shot put. The 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference Field Performer of the Year topped the previous record by two and a half inches while placing second at the regional. He qualifies for his third NCAA Championship in the outing. Marcelle will also compete in the men’s discus throw on Saturday at 5 p.m.
The final performer to qualify for the NCAA Championships was the first one to achieve the mark on the day. Senior Kimery Hern started the day off placing fourth in the hammer throw with a mark of 176’5″. Hern automatically qualified for her third-straight NCAA Championship in the event, while posting her highest-ever finish at a regional. She also took flight in the women’s discus at the meet, placing ninth with a mark of 153’9″.
Senior Alana Clooten placed ninth in the same event with a mark of 176’5″, and will now wait to see if she receives an At-large berth to the Championships.
Senior E.C. Gibbs advanced out of the preliminaries of the 1500-meter run with a 3:50.50 on the day. He will run in the finals on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
Competition at the East Region Championships will resume on Saturday at 11 a.m.
