May 28, 2009
Live Results | Regional Central Page
ATLANTA – Twenty-five student-athletes will represent the Georgia Tech men’s and women’s track & field teams at the NCAA East Region Championships this weekend, May 29-30, in Greensboro, N.C. Competition begins Friday with the women’s hammer throw at 11 a.m. at the Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T.
The Yellow Jackets will compete in 19 events for the right to advance to the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., June 10-13. Approximately 850 student-athletes representing more than 110 institutions from Maine to Florida will be competing in the two-day meet. The top five finishers in each individual event and the top three finishers in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays will automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships.
“We are looking forward to our trip to Greensboro to compete in this outstanding Regional Championship,” men’s head coach Grover Hinsdale said. “I believe that we are healthy, fit and ready for the challenge.”
“We’re excited about sending thirteen women to compete in the post-season, and the NCAA East Regional will showcase some outstanding collegiate competition,” women’s head coach Alan Drosky said. “There is no selection committee in our sport, only a qualifying standard, so these women have certainly earned their way to Greensboro.”
Leading the way for the men in multiple events will be junior Alphonso Jordan in the 110-meter hurdles, long jump and triple jump. The 2009 ACC Outdoor triple jump champion posted a career-best mark of 52’10” at the Georgia Tech Invitational two weeks ago which currently ranks him 12th-nationally.
Also qualifying in more than one event for the men is senior Jerome Miller (high jump, triple jump), senior E.C. Gibbs (800m, 1500m), junior Steve Marcelle (shot put, discus) and sophomore Antonio McKay Jr. (400m, 4x400m relay). Miller, who took the ACC title in the high jump, is ranked fourth in the nation with a Tech record clearance of 7’3.25″ set at both the Seminole Twilight Invitational and the Georgia Tech Invitational.
On the women’s side, All-American senior Kimery Hern will be competing in her fourth and final regional while attempting to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the hammer throw for the third-straight year. She will also take part in the discus on Friday.
Freshman Bailey Wagner will also compete in more than one event on the weekend, making her regional debut in the shot put and discus. Wagner is one of five Tech freshmen participating in their first regional.
“Though we’re young, all of our qualifiers have competed well through the long indoor and outdoor campaign so they’ve all got some good experience under their belt now,” Drosky added. “Our only senior, Kimery Hern, is also our most experienced competitor. I’m excited about watching her attempt to extend her career on the Flats another two weeks.”
