March 22, 2003
CLEMSON, S.C. – The Georgia Tech men’s and women’s track and field teams had an impressive outdoor debut Saturday as the Jackets posted 10 NCAA Regional qualifying performances and combined for nine event victories at the Clemson Relays at the Tigers’ Rock Norman Track Complex.
The Yellow Jacket women totaled six victories, including a sweep of the jumps. Freshman All-American Chaunte Howard won the high jump (5’10.00″), senior Jessica DeFreitas took the long jump (20’3.50″) and sophomore Shanta Smith placed first in the triple jump (43’2.50″). Each of the winning marks met the qualifying standard for the NCAA East Regional Championships, scheduled for May 30-31 in Fairfax, Va.
Other victories for the women came from junior Amandi Rhett, who won the 100 meters in 12.17, and sophomore Dana Rogers, who blew away the field in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.94, which surpassed the NCAA Regional qualifying standard. The Jackets other win came from the 4×100-meter relay, which clocked a regional qualifying time of 45.72.
Highlighting the Tech men was sophomore Zeb Sion, who eclipsed the Jackets’ oldest outdoor school record with a toss of 59’5.00″ in the shot put. His mark qualifies him for NCAA Regionals and broke Ed Nutting’s 1960 record of 58’7.00″. Sion now holds both the indoor and outdoor school marks.
Individual wins for the men came from junior Michael Massey in the high jump (6’10.00″) and senior Brian Fraser in the triple jump (50’5.25″). Both marks were regional qualifiers. The men’s 4×400-meter relay team was also victorious in 3:13.35.
Freshman Brandy Depland, who took second in both the long jump and triple jump, closed out the NCAA Regional qualifiers. She jumped 19’5.25″ in the long jump and 40’7.75″ in the triple jump to qualify in both events.
Tech also had a quintet of women racing the 400-meter hurdles at the Alabama Relays. Courtney Thomas, who finished eighth in 1:04.19, was the top finisher.
The Jackets return to action next weekend at both the Florida Relays and Stanford Relays.
-GT
