March 26, 2009
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ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech men’s and women’s track & field teams will host the Yellow Jacket Invitational at the George C. Griffin Track this weekend on the Georgia Tech campus. Competition begins Friday at 6 p.m. with the hammer throw.
The Jackets welcome a strong 14-team field to Atlanta that includes Southeastern Conference foes Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Vanderbilt, as well as Clemson, Chattanooga, Georgia State, Kennesaw State, Louisville, Michigan, Tulane, Connecticut and Middle Tennessee State.
“This year’s edition of the Yellow Jacket Invitational is shaping up to be an excellent meet in a mostly one day format,” women’s head coach Alan Drosky said. “Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we’ll have a good crowd on hand to watch some great track & field competition.”
Tech is coming off a weekend where they posted five first-place finishes and 18 total top-five finishes at the Hurricane Invitational in Coral Gables, Fla.
In her first taste of outdoor collegiate competition, freshman Bailey Wagner destroyed the field in the shot put by nearly six-inches as her 48’5.50″ mark broke the old Tech record of 47’10.50″ set by Dana Hall during the 2002 season. The Lake Villa, Ill. native, wasn’t finished on the day however, as she also took the title in the discuss throw with a mark of 156’5″. She was named ACC Co-Performer of the Week for her outstanding performance.
After the first week of the 2009 outdoor season, the Tech women have seven top-three performances in the ACC, while leading in the high jump and triple jump. Wagner, along with senior Alana Clooten (Hammer Throw) and freshman Terri Ann Grant (High Jump) all qualified for the NCAA East Regional on May 29-30 in Greensboro, N.C.
“The women had a great outdoor opening last weekend in Miami and now continue to work on improving from week to week,” Drosky added. “Rain or shine, we should be ready to line up and compete hard.”
On the men’s side, senior Andy Powlen captured first-place in the discus throw with a mark of 162’1″ last weekend. Powlen currently has the second-best mark in the conference.
Sophomore Omar Morrison was the lone men’s regional qualifier for Tech last week, as his leap of 49’3.50″ in the triple jump was second overall, but the best mark for an NCAA athlete in the meet.
The men currently have five top-three marks in the conference, while leading the triple jump and the 800 meters.
“Our team is looking forward to competing in the Yellow Jacket Invitational,” men’s head coach Grover Hinsdale said. “It has always been a very competitive meet and being at home is always special.”
Complete results and a recap can be found after the conclusion of each day at www.RamblinWreck.com.
