Feb. 28, 2003
ATLANTA – Having posted a pair of impressive showings at the ACC Indoor Championships, the Georgia Tech men’s and women’s track and field teams now turn their attention to recording qualifying marks for the 2003 NCAA Indoor Championships. That task begins Saturday at the Virginia Tech Last Chance Meet at the Hokies’ Rector Field House.
The meet opens at 10 a.m. with the women’s pole vault and 5000 meters and is schedule to conclude with the men’s 4×400-meter relay at 4 p.m.
Tech’s women’s team hopes to improve on eight provisional qualifying marks, led by freshman Chaunte Howard’s 6’0.00″ performance in the high jump at last weekend’s ACC Championships. That mark won the league title and ranks as the nation’s fourth-best jump. Howard is also provisionally qualified in the triple jump with a mark of 41’9.75″.
The Jackets also have two other provisional marks in the triple jump, paced by sophomore Shanta Smith, two-time ACC champion in the event. She eclipsed her own school record last weekend with a leap of 42’5.50″, a performance that ranks 19th nationally. Senior Jessica DeFreitas, who earned All-ACC honors in three events, owns provisonals in both the triple jump (41’10.50″) and 60-meter dash. She stands 25th in the triple jump.
Freshman Jessica Graff is provisionally qualified in the pole vault with a school record mark of 12’11.50″. That performance stands 19th in the country. Junior Amandi Rhett (60-meter dash) and sophomore Dana Rogers (60-meter hurdles) also own provisional marks. Rhett, who won the 60-meter dash title at the league championships, currently ranks 25th nationally in the event, while Rogers stands 33rd in the hurdles.
On the men’s side, the Jackets have two provisional qualifiers. Junior Kyle Rabbitt, who garnered All-ACC honors in both the 3000 and 5000 meters, owns a qualifying mark in the 5000 with a time of 14:14.48. That performance ranks as the country’s 26th best. Senior Brian Fraser earned a provisional qualifying mark in the triple jump with a leap of 51’2.75″, which was good for second at the ACC Championships and ranks 24th nationally.
Several Jackets are also close to provisional marks, including All-Americans Brendon Mahoney, who has a shot in the 800 meters and mile, and Bryan Swarn, who is close in the 800. Dennis Davis (60, 200 meters), Sharif Azim (400 meters) and Rabbitt (3000 meters) are also within striking distance of provisional marks.
Following this weekend’s action, the Jackets will travel to the Iowa State Classic, followed by the NCAA Indoor Championships, which are slated for March 14-15 in Fayetteville, Ark.
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