May 8, 2003
ATLANTA – With the outdoor track and field season winding to a close, the Georgia Tech men’s and women’s track and field teams hope to add to their 21 combined NCAA Regional qualifying performances at the Clemson Orange & Purple Classic and Stanford’s Cardinal Qualifier Friday and Saturday.
Middle distance standouts Brendon Mahoney and Neil McDonagh are the lone Jackets competing at Stanford’s Cobb Track and Angell Field. Both will tackle the 1500-meters, which is scheduled for Friday at 9 p.m. Pacific. McDonagh is qualified for the NCAA East Region Championships in the event with a team-best time of 3:49.10, while Mahoney is gunning for a qualifying mark to match his team-best 1:50.17 in the 800 meters.
The rest of the Tech competitors head to Clemson’s Rock Norman Track for Saturday’s action, which opens with field events at 11:30 a.m. and running events at 1 p.m.
Tech’s men will be led by sophomore throwers Ian Brewer, Zeb Sion and Jonathan Spillman, who have each qualified for Regionals in their respective events. Senior standout Bryan Swarn will likely compete in the individual 400 meters and anchor Tech’s 4×400-meter relay, while triple jumper Brian Fraser and high jumper Michael Massey lead the way in the jumps.
On the women’s side, junior sprinter Amandi Rhett, who will likely compete in both the 100 and 200 meters, and sophomore 100-meter hurdler Dana Rogers should lead the way on the track. Both are qualified for the regional meet in their specialties. Both are also scheduled to run on the Jackets’ 4×100-meter relay. Senior long jumper Jessica DeFreitas and freshman discus thrower Simone Parker, who both recently set school records, as well as triple jump standout Shanta Smith, lead the way in the field events. Freshman All-American high jumper Chaunte Howard could also see action in the 100-meter hurdles.
Following this weekend’s meets, the Jackets host the 2003 Georgia Tech Invitational at George C. Griffin Track, May 16-17.
-GT-
