May 13, 2010
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech men’s and women’s track and field teams are set to welcome over 1,000 athletes to the Tech campus this weekend when they host the Georgia Tech Invitational at Griffin Track on Friday and Saturday. Action gets underway on Friday at 12 noon with the hammer throw.
“The Georgia Tech Invitational has been one of the premier meets of the outdoor season for many years, however, I believe this years edition may top them all,” men’s head coach Grover Hinsdale said. “We have right around 90 colleges from all over the country that will take part as well as many outstanding post-collegiate athletes,
“It will be an outstanding weekend of track & field at Griffin Track. “
“The Georgia Tech Invitational is shaping up once again to be an outstanding meet,” women’s head coach Alan Drosky added. “The competition will be tremendous with many DI collegians attempting to improve their NCAA standing and DII and DIII student-athletes trying to sharpen up prior to their respective national meets. Add to that some truly world-class competitors who are just now opening up their seasons as they prepare for the European season later in the summer.”
For the Yellow Jackets, this weekend’s meet is the last of the season at Griffin Track and for some the final chance to qualify for the NCAA East Region Championships coming up on May 28- 29th in Greensboro, N.C.
For the men, Tech has been led on the outdoor season by senior’s Alphonso Jordan and Steve Marcelle, both of whom will see there final action on The Flats this weekend.
Jordan captured the ACC Outdoor Championship in the triple jump last month. With his performance, Jordan was named the most valuable field performer of the Championships, marking the third straight season a Yellow Jacket garnered that honor. Meanwhile, Marcelle won the shot put for the third straight season at ACC meet to pace the Jackets to a seventh place finish.
In the Jacket’s last meet at Griffin Track on May 1st, the men’s team split a tri-dual meet against Clemson (W, 116-66) and Kennesaw State (L, 90-102). In the meet, seniors Hunter Clasen and Omar Morrison set personal bests in the 400m dash and the triple jump, respectively.
On the women’s side, several Tech student-athletes look to punch their tickets to Greensboro or improve on previous performances they had throughout the course of the outdoor season.
Leading the way for the Jackets are senior Alana Clooten, who will try to continue her stellar senior season in the hammer throw and junior Joanna Wright, who broke the outdoor school record in the pole vault at the Clemson-Kennesaw State tri-dual with a 13′ 5.25″ clearance.
“For our women, we want to continue the momentum we’ve built on with each meet,” said Drosky. “Some of the women will try to improve their regional standing as we head into the NCAA East Regional, others will attempt to earn spots in the regional meet, and some others will be trying to end their season with a personal best.”
Fans are reminded that live results will be available all weekend at www.deltatiming.com. Also, a full recap and results will be posted on RamblinWreck.com once action wraps up on Friday and Saturday.
