March 19, 2009
The Georgia Tech men’s and women’s track & field teams open the 2009 Outdoor season this weekend at the Hurricane Invitational in Coral Gables, Fla.
“This team is excited about getting the outdoor season started,” men’s head coach Grover Hinsdale said. “We scheduled the UM meet to open the outdoor season because the ACC Championships will be held at their facility in late April. It looks to be a very competitive meet and we look forward to the challenge.”
The Tech men will look to improve on an eighth-place finish at the 2008 ACC Outdoor Championships, while returning three All-ACC performers from one year ago. Senior Andy Powlen and junior Steve Marcelle return in the shot put, while junior Alphonso Jordan returns after placing second in the triple jump one year ago.
Marcelle won gold in the shot put at the 2009 ACC Indoor Championships in February, his second indoor conference title in a row.
Jordan received All-America honors last weekend at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Championships, after placing eighth in the triple-jump with a career-best mark of 52’9.25″ in College Station, Texas.
The Tech women enter the 2009 Outdoor season looking to improve on their sixth-place finish a year ago. The Jackets are without All-American Shantia Moss due to graduation, but return two 2008 Outdoor All-ACC performers in Kimery Hern (Hammer Throw) and Joanna Wright (Pole Vault). Wright, along with freshman Bailey Wagner (Shot Put) placed second at the ’09 ACC Indoor Championships.
“The women ended the indoor season with some good momentum and we’re here to build on that and begin the outdoor season in strong fashion,” women’s head coach Alan Drosky said. “We’re looking for personal bests and great effort across the board.”
A recap and complete results will be available after the completion of each day at www.RamblinWreck.com.
