Jan. 25, 2003
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Highlighted by an NCAA provisional qualifying performance from senior Jessica DeFreitas and a combined seven wins in the jumps and pole vault, the Georgia Tech men’s and women’s track and field teams continued their early season success Saturday at the Blue Raider Invitational at Middle Tennessee State’s Murphy Center.
DeFreitas sprinted to a career-best time of 6.94 in the 55-meter dash, a mark that provisionally qualifies her for the 2003 NCAA Indoor Championships. She placed second in the race, while teammate Amandi Rhett took fourth in 7.00. Rhett also finished second in the 200 meters in 24.66. DeFreitas had a busy afternoon as well, as she also leaped a season-best 19’10.75″ to win the long jump.
Freshmen also picked up a pair of victories for the Yellow Jacket women, as Jessica Graff won her second pole vault competition in as many weeks with a height of 12’0.00″. Classmate Chaunte Howard placed first in the high jump, clearing 5’8.00″. Additionally, junior Jodie Nettles and freshman Kira Barcus took second and third, respectively, in the pole vault. Freshman Brandy Depland placed second in the long jump.
The Tech men swept the jumps and pole vault. Season-best marks came from senior Chris Crawley, who won the long jump in 23’11.75″, and sophomore Reuben Houston, who placed first in the triple jump with a leap of 49’5.25″. Junior Michael Massey won the high jump, clearing 6’8.00″, while classmate David Smith took the pole vault with a mark of 14’0.00″. The Jackets also displayed great depth, as freshman I-Perfection Harris took second in the long jump, followed by senior Brian Fraser in third place. Junior Spencer Irvine placed second in the triple jump.
Tech’s women also took first through third in the 55-meter hurdles, with sophomore Dana Rogers clocking a time of 7.99 in the victory. Junior Melanie Waits and freshman Andriane Lapsley finished second and third, respectively. Also, senior Jamie Ostrov recorded a season-best time of 58.80 in the 400 meters.
The Jackets also got top-three finishes from sophomore Jonathan Chihoski, who was third in the weight throw, and senior Scott Reida, who placed third in the shot put. Sophomore sprinter Dennis Davis debuted this season with a fifth-place finish in the 55-meter dash (6.43) and a fourth-place run in the 200 meters (21.69).
In the 4×400 relay, Tech’s men took third in a time of 3:19.64, while the women’s squad was fourth in 4:07.08.
Tech returns to action Saturday, February 1, at the Carolina Fast Times Meet in Chapel Hill, N.C.
-GT-
