April 25, 2003
PHILADELPHIA – The Georgia Tech women’s 4×200-meter relay led the Jackets’ men’s and women’s track and field teams at the 109th Penn Relays Friday with the third school record in the last two days at historic Franklin Field.
The team of junior Amandi Rhett, sophomore Dana Rogers, senior Jessica DeFreitas and sophomore Shanta Smith placed second in the second heat with a time of 1:34.98, which eclipsed the former mark set a year ago by nearly two seconds. With a top-eight finish, the Jackets advance to Saturday’s Championship of America final. Rhett also advanced to the championship final of the women’s 100-meter dash.
Advancing on the men’s side was the 4×400-meter team of sophomore Brian Ford, senior Sharif Azim, freshman Matt Trester and senior Bryan Swarn. They posted a season-best time 3:09.29 to move on to Saturday’s College Championship final.
Tech’s men also got a season-best in the distance medley relay from the team of junior Brendon Mahoney, sophomore Neil McDonagh, junior David Schmidt, and freshman Nate Smiga. They ran 9:41.14 to place ninth in Championship of America.
Additionally, the women took fourth in the shuttle hurdle relay, as the team of Rogers, freshman Andriane Lapsley, junior Melanie Waits and freshman Chaunte Howard posted a time of 56.45 and placed third in the first heat.
In individual action, sophomore Zeb Sion placed sixth in the championship section of the shot put with a toss of 57’3.00″. Additionally, freshman Brandy Depland was fifth in the women’s college triple jump with a season-best mark of 40’9.00″, while junior Michael Massey placed ninth in the men’s high jump with a 6’8.25″ performance. Depland’s performance improves her qualifying mark for the NCAA East Region Championships.
Action resumes Saturday morning and concludes with the men’s 4×400 relay championship at 5:55 p.m.
-GT-
