Nov. 29, 2007
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech men’s and women’s track and field teams will kick off the 2008 indoor season this Fri.-Sat., Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at the Clemson Opener in the recently renovated Rock Norman Track & Field Complex in Clemson, S.C.
The men’s distance medley relay, weight throw and pole vault will open the event on Friday evening at 5p.m. Saturday’s events will begin at 11 a.m. with the men’s shot put and high jump and the women’s triple jump and pole vault.
“After a very solid fall training period we are looking forward to opening the season this weekend at Clemson,” men’s head coach Grover Hinsdale said. “We have opened at Clemson every year since they built their facility. This meet has provided us with an opportunity to post some very good performances in the past and we look forward to doing the same this weekend.”
“We always look forward to the first meet of the indoor season at Clemson,” women’s head coach Alan Drosky added. “The women started conditioning back in September and are anxious to compete. Even though it’s still very early given that we have a long spring semester of competition, we still expect to see some solid performances.”
The men’s squad will be led by three all-Atlantic Coast Conference indoor honorees this weekend. Senior James Lemons, the 2007 ACC Championships Men’s Field Most Valuable Performer, is back competing in both the triple jump and long jump. Senior Jerome Miller, the ACC indoor champion in the high jump, and sophomore Alphonso Jordan, who will look to build on his outstanding first year on the Flats, also will compete for the men’s team.
Sophomore Steve Marcelle looks to build off his outstanding outdoor season in the throwing events and help the Jackets at the Clemson meet.
The women’s team will travel with a limited squad this weekend. Junior All-American Kimery Hern, the school’s record-holder in the hammer throw, will be making her 2008 debut for the team at the first meet of the season.
Also competing for the women will be 10 freshmen, who will make their Tech track & field debuts. Corey Aitken, Jenae Anderson, Felicity Brower, Taylor Davidson, Megan Manning, Kayla McKeirnan, Leslie Njoku, Erica Penk and Joanna Wright will all participate at the two-day event.
“This meet will also be a chance to see our underclassmen and get a gauge of where we’re at as a team,” Drosky said.
After this weekend, the Jackets will have a month off to prepare for the Kentucky Invitational on Jan. 11-12 in Lexington, Ky.
– RamblinWreck.com –
