Jan. 17, 2002
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech men and women’s track and field teams will hope to continue a successful early season Friday when they open competition in Chapel Hill, N.C., at the Tar Heel Elite Invitational.
Tech has enjoyed solid performances in each of its first two meets, as Yellow Jackets have posted some of the top performances in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season.
The men are led by 400-meter standouts Bryan Swarn and Sharif Azim, who rank first and second among conference runners. Swarn owns a time of 48.20. Brendon Mahoney posted the league’s top time in the 800 (1:51.22), while the tandem of Chris Crawley and Brian Fraser occupy the first two spots in the long jump.
Freshman Donald Beamer owns the second-fastest mark in the 200 meters, while classmates Zeb Sion and Jonathan Spillman rank second and third in the shot put.
As for the women, senior Mishanta Reyes has the league’s top time in the 60-meter hurdles, as Tech runners have posted four of the top five marks. Freshman Shanta Smith has clocked the second-best mark in the 200 meters, while high jumpers Jamie Ostrov and Jennifer Ledbetter ranks first and second. Ostrov’s mark of 5′ 9.75 provisionally qualifies her for the NCAA Championships.
Joining the Jackets in this meet will be ACC rivals Florida State and North Carolina, as well as Charlotte, Georgia, North Carolina Central, St. Augustine, VMI and Western Carolina. The women of Miami and South Florida, as well as William & Mary’s men will also compete.
Action at Eddie Smith Field House is slated to begin at 2 p.m. on Friday with several field events. Running events on Friday open with the 60-meter hurdles and will conclude with the distance medley relay.
On Saturday, field and running events will resume at 11 a.m. The meet will conclude with the 4×400 relay that afternoon.
-GT-
