University of Georgia Athletics
Lady Bulldogs Take Fourth At NCAA Indoor Championships
March 10, 2007 | Track & Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Lady Bulldogs came away from the NCAA Indoor Championships with a fourth-place finish after scoring 28 points in Fayetteville, Ark., on Saturday. The finale for the Georgia women was the second-best indoor finish in program history and the best finish for both the men and women since 1999.
While Arizona State (38 points) took first on the women's side, LSU (33) finished second, Tennessee (30) managed third place and Auburn (26) was the fifth-place finisher.
The Georgia men saw senior Ian Burrell take home All-American honors, but the Bulldogs did not score at the indoor national meet for only the second time in eight years. Wisconsin (40 points) won the national championship on the men's half, Florida State (35) took second, Texas scored 34 points and took third, Stanford (8) finished in fourth and Auburn (25) rounded out the top five in fifth.
"We had very good meet, all things considered. This was a great way to cap off the indoor season," said Georgia assistant coach Don Babbitt. "Anytime you finish in the top four, it is an outstanding achievement. Finishing fourth with only four girls competing is a testament to the talent we have right now."
"Our performance this weekend is a result of being blessed," added Norton, whose women's team tied for fifth in 2006 and notched its best finish of second in 1996.
Senior Jennifer Dahlgren grabbed the second runner-up finish for the Lady Bulldogs at the meet. Dahlgren, who had a personal-best effort of 78 feet, 10 ½ inches in the weight throw to clinch the title at the 2006 NCAA Championships, launched a season-best throw of 73-11 on her third attempt to take second. Dahlgren's runner-up finish made her a seven-time All-American and gave the fourth-ranked Lady Bulldogs a brief 26-25 lead over Arizona State for first place in the team standings.
Although the native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, who came into the meet with a season-best mark of 72-10, had three fouls in the final indoor meet of her career, all three of Dahlgren's legal throws traveled at least 72 feet.
Southern Illinois thrower Brittany Riley, who came into the meet with the world's best effort (80-7.50), broke the NCAA record and recorded a world's best mark of 83-10 on her final throw of the finals to clinch first place.
The Lady Bulldogs added two more points to their total in the mile. Junior Natalie Picchetti, who clocked the second-fastest time in school history (4:42.70) on the Arkansas track earlier this season, managed a seventh-place finish in the finals with a time of 4:48.60. Thanks for her finish, Picchetti, who was 10th on the national list before the meet, garnered Georgia's fifth All-American certificate of the NCAA Indoor Championships.
The Lady Bulldogs' charge for the program's first national team title was slowed in the triple jump. Senior Patricia Sylvester claimed an NCAA title in the high jump during the meet's first day and was positioned to battle for a second after coming into Fayetteville as the nation's top-ranked triple jumper. Although Sylvester soared 41-10, she did not advance to the finals and finished 12th in the prelims.
With Sylvester's outdoor eligibility exhausted, the River Sallee, Grenada, native wrapped up a remarkable career in red and black on Saturday. After transferring from Central Arizona College, Sylvester recorded one national individual title, four Southeastern Conference championships (two conference team titles) and four All-American certificates. In addition, Sylvester was the high-point scorer at two different SEC meets and owns or shares two school records.
On the men's side, sophomore Daniel Vanek and junior Kyle Helf struggled during the prelims of the shot put and did not advance to the finals. While Vanek, who was the eighth-ranked thrower in the nation coming into the national meet, had a throw of 58-4.50 and two fouls to finish 14th, Helf, who had thrown over 60 feet during his last two outings, was 12th after reaching 59-1.50 on his third and final attempt.
Vanek, who also transferred to Georgia from Central Arizona, finished his first season with the Bulldogs at the No. 3 spot in the school record books (63-4.25) and Helf completed his junior indoor campaign at the fourth spot (62-3.25).
In addition to Sylvester's national crown on Friday, sophomore Levern Spencer was able to take second in the high jump for the second year in a row and Burrell also added All-American honors to his resume in the 5000-meter run.
Full results and a recap from the NCAA Championships can be found at georgiadogs.com.
Note: The scoring for the NCAA meet is done on the following scale: first place-10 points, second place-8 points, third place-6 points, fourth place-five points, fifth place-four points, sixth place-three points, seventh place-two points and eighth place-one point (ties cause the point totals to be divided). The top eight finishers in each event are named All-Americans and if foreign athletes are in the top eight, then the next American finisher after eighth place also earns an All-America certificate.
Final Team Scores (Top 10)
WOMEN MEN
1. Arizona State - 38 points 1. Wisconsin - 40 points
2. LSU - 33 2. Florida State - 35
3. Tennessee - 30 3. Texas - 34
4. GEORGIA - 28 4. Stanford - 28
5. Auburn - 26 5. Auburn - 25
6. Stanford - 24 6. Michigan - 23
7. UCLA - 23 T7. Arkansas - 22
8. Texas - 22 T7. Washington - 22
9. Michigan - 21 9. Northern Iowa - 21.5
T10. Texas Tech - 20 T10. Baylor - 21
T10. South Carolina - 20 T10. Tennessee - 21
T10. LSU - 21
T10. Louisville - 21
Georgia's 2007 NCAA Champions
WOMEN
Patricia Sylvester - High jump (6 feet, 2 ¼ inches)
Georgia's 2007 All-Americans
Patricia Sylvester - High jump
Levern Spencer - High jump
Ian Burrell - 5000-meter run
Jennifer Dahlgren - Weight throw
Natalie Picchetti - Mile
Georgia's results at the NCAA Championships
WOMEN
Athlete Event Time or Mark - Finish
Patricia Sylvester High jump PR, SR 6-2.25 - 1st
Levern Spencer High jump PR, SR 6-2.25 - 2nd
Jennifer Dahlgren Weight SB 73-11 - 2nd
Natalie Picchetti Mile (PRELIMS) 4:45.23 - 8th
Picchetti Mile (FINALS) 4:48.60 - 7th
Sylvester Triple jump (PRELIMS) 41-10 - 12th
MEN
Ian Burrell 5000-meter run 13:56.26 - 10th
Nate Rolfe Weight (PRELIMS) 65-7 - 13th
David Dickens 400-meter dash (PRELIMS 47.51 - 14th
Daniel Vanek Shot put (PRELIMS) 58-4.50 - 14th
Kyle Helf Shot put (PRELIMS) 59-1.50 - 12th
SB = season best
PR = indoor personal best
SR = school record
While Arizona State (38 points) took first on the women's side, LSU (33) finished second, Tennessee (30) managed third place and Auburn (26) was the fifth-place finisher.
The Georgia men saw senior Ian Burrell take home All-American honors, but the Bulldogs did not score at the indoor national meet for only the second time in eight years. Wisconsin (40 points) won the national championship on the men's half, Florida State (35) took second, Texas scored 34 points and took third, Stanford (8) finished in fourth and Auburn (25) rounded out the top five in fifth.
"We had very good meet, all things considered. This was a great way to cap off the indoor season," said Georgia assistant coach Don Babbitt. "Anytime you finish in the top four, it is an outstanding achievement. Finishing fourth with only four girls competing is a testament to the talent we have right now."
"Our performance this weekend is a result of being blessed," added Norton, whose women's team tied for fifth in 2006 and notched its best finish of second in 1996.
Senior Jennifer Dahlgren grabbed the second runner-up finish for the Lady Bulldogs at the meet. Dahlgren, who had a personal-best effort of 78 feet, 10 ½ inches in the weight throw to clinch the title at the 2006 NCAA Championships, launched a season-best throw of 73-11 on her third attempt to take second. Dahlgren's runner-up finish made her a seven-time All-American and gave the fourth-ranked Lady Bulldogs a brief 26-25 lead over Arizona State for first place in the team standings.
Although the native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, who came into the meet with a season-best mark of 72-10, had three fouls in the final indoor meet of her career, all three of Dahlgren's legal throws traveled at least 72 feet.
Southern Illinois thrower Brittany Riley, who came into the meet with the world's best effort (80-7.50), broke the NCAA record and recorded a world's best mark of 83-10 on her final throw of the finals to clinch first place.
The Lady Bulldogs added two more points to their total in the mile. Junior Natalie Picchetti, who clocked the second-fastest time in school history (4:42.70) on the Arkansas track earlier this season, managed a seventh-place finish in the finals with a time of 4:48.60. Thanks for her finish, Picchetti, who was 10th on the national list before the meet, garnered Georgia's fifth All-American certificate of the NCAA Indoor Championships.
The Lady Bulldogs' charge for the program's first national team title was slowed in the triple jump. Senior Patricia Sylvester claimed an NCAA title in the high jump during the meet's first day and was positioned to battle for a second after coming into Fayetteville as the nation's top-ranked triple jumper. Although Sylvester soared 41-10, she did not advance to the finals and finished 12th in the prelims.
With Sylvester's outdoor eligibility exhausted, the River Sallee, Grenada, native wrapped up a remarkable career in red and black on Saturday. After transferring from Central Arizona College, Sylvester recorded one national individual title, four Southeastern Conference championships (two conference team titles) and four All-American certificates. In addition, Sylvester was the high-point scorer at two different SEC meets and owns or shares two school records.
On the men's side, sophomore Daniel Vanek and junior Kyle Helf struggled during the prelims of the shot put and did not advance to the finals. While Vanek, who was the eighth-ranked thrower in the nation coming into the national meet, had a throw of 58-4.50 and two fouls to finish 14th, Helf, who had thrown over 60 feet during his last two outings, was 12th after reaching 59-1.50 on his third and final attempt.
Vanek, who also transferred to Georgia from Central Arizona, finished his first season with the Bulldogs at the No. 3 spot in the school record books (63-4.25) and Helf completed his junior indoor campaign at the fourth spot (62-3.25).
In addition to Sylvester's national crown on Friday, sophomore Levern Spencer was able to take second in the high jump for the second year in a row and Burrell also added All-American honors to his resume in the 5000-meter run.
Full results and a recap from the NCAA Championships can be found at georgiadogs.com.
Note: The scoring for the NCAA meet is done on the following scale: first place-10 points, second place-8 points, third place-6 points, fourth place-five points, fifth place-four points, sixth place-three points, seventh place-two points and eighth place-one point (ties cause the point totals to be divided). The top eight finishers in each event are named All-Americans and if foreign athletes are in the top eight, then the next American finisher after eighth place also earns an All-America certificate.
Final Team Scores (Top 10)
WOMEN MEN
1. Arizona State - 38 points 1. Wisconsin - 40 points
2. LSU - 33 2. Florida State - 35
3. Tennessee - 30 3. Texas - 34
4. GEORGIA - 28 4. Stanford - 28
5. Auburn - 26 5. Auburn - 25
6. Stanford - 24 6. Michigan - 23
7. UCLA - 23 T7. Arkansas - 22
8. Texas - 22 T7. Washington - 22
9. Michigan - 21 9. Northern Iowa - 21.5
T10. Texas Tech - 20 T10. Baylor - 21
T10. South Carolina - 20 T10. Tennessee - 21
T10. LSU - 21
T10. Louisville - 21
Georgia's 2007 NCAA Champions
WOMEN
Patricia Sylvester - High jump (6 feet, 2 ¼ inches)
Georgia's 2007 All-Americans
Patricia Sylvester - High jump
Levern Spencer - High jump
Ian Burrell - 5000-meter run
Jennifer Dahlgren - Weight throw
Natalie Picchetti - Mile
Georgia's results at the NCAA Championships
WOMEN
Athlete Event Time or Mark - Finish
Patricia Sylvester High jump PR, SR 6-2.25 - 1st
Levern Spencer High jump PR, SR 6-2.25 - 2nd
Jennifer Dahlgren Weight SB 73-11 - 2nd
Natalie Picchetti Mile (PRELIMS) 4:45.23 - 8th
Picchetti Mile (FINALS) 4:48.60 - 7th
Sylvester Triple jump (PRELIMS) 41-10 - 12th
MEN
Ian Burrell 5000-meter run 13:56.26 - 10th
Nate Rolfe Weight (PRELIMS) 65-7 - 13th
David Dickens 400-meter dash (PRELIMS 47.51 - 14th
Daniel Vanek Shot put (PRELIMS) 58-4.50 - 14th
Kyle Helf Shot put (PRELIMS) 59-1.50 - 12th
SB = season best
PR = indoor personal best
SR = school record
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