Georgia Records Eight NCAA Regional Marks

ATHENS, Ga. --- Both Georgia track and field teams combined for eight NCAA regional qualifying marks or times during the final day of the Georgia Relays at Spec Towns Track on Saturday.

Following the two-day meet, the home teams tallied 13 regional marks or times and won 10 events during the first outdoor meet of the 2007 season.

“For an early season meet, we had a pretty productive couple of days. I think the throwers really took advantage of this meet and I am pleased about that since this is really why we hosted this meet this early in the season,” said Georgia head coach Wayne Norton. “One of the highlights this weekend for me was seeing the weekend that Nate Rolfe and Kyle Helf had. They are assuming a leadership role for this team and I think that will pay dividends down the road."

Against gusty cross winds, senior Krista Woodward, who was an outdoor All-American in 2003, 2004 and 2006, registered the most dominant of Georgia’s regional qualifying marks in the javelin. Woodward, a Southeastern Conference’s three-time champion in the event, had a personal-best throw of 180 feet, which improved her No. 2 spot in the school record books and moved her with 2 feet, 3 inches of breaking Georgia’s record.

The Bulldogs' Nate Rolfe exploded for the second No. 2 mark in the Georgia record books in the discus. On his final throw of the meet, Rolfe improved more than six and a half feet from his previous long mark of the day with a throw of 191-11 to win the meet. Rolfe's mark blasted him through the school record books to second, passing Martin Maric who had a mark of 190-1 in 2006.

Adding to Georgia's strength in the throws department was junior Daniel Vanek and freshman Israel Machovec. While Vanek, who advanced to the NCAA Indoor Championships earlier this month, took third (178-2) with a regional mark in the discus, Machovec had a brilliant debut for the Bulldogs by taking fourth with a regional mark of 173-5.

Adding the to success of the women throwers, sophomore Josipa Jelicic bettered her place in the Georgia record books after winning the discus with a regional mark of 169-2. Jelicic’s top throw, which came on her second of six attempts, improved her third-best effort in school history.

The Bulldog foursome of sophomore Jarrell Stewart, senior David Dickens, senior Brian Etelman and Michael Proctor recorded another one of the regional qualifying times for Georgia on Saturday. Georgia won the 4x100 relay with a time of 40.03 after distancing themselves from the six other teams in their heat during the final two legs.

Three of the four Georgia competitors above teamed with sophomore Justin Gaymon to finish the 4x200 in second place (1:23.42).

Gaymon tallied another regional qualifying mark for the men in the 110 hurdles. Gaymon clocked a 14.17 to lead from start to finish for the win and earned an early shot at reaching the NCAA East Regional. Finishing not far behind Gaymon was sophomore Keelan Knox, who took third with a time of 14.42, and freshman Johnny Simpkins (14.91).

After a brief breather, Knox returned to the track and grabbed a regional qualifying mark in the 400 hurdles (52.36). Freshman Gordon Ritchie-Haughton finished almost a half second slower than Knox (52.77) and managed third.

Georgia’s vaulters took swept first, second and third place in the women’s vault with sophomore Julianne Toto picking up the win. While Toto cleared a height of 12-1.50, junior Christy Carr finished second (11-3.75) and freshman Annalise Peters managed a third-place finish in the event after recording the same mark as Carr.

Also breaking into the top three in their event was Georgia’s distance medley team consisting of sophomore Kris Ward, junior Nate Hermance, Ritchie-Haughton and Ryan Philyaw. The Bulldog squad finished third with a time of 10:25.15.

Sophomore Kevin Dickson topped three other teammates in the men’s high jump to take second. Dickson had a personal-best jump of 6-8.75 on his third attempt at the height to lead sophomore Josh Bagley (5th – 6-6.75) and freshman Daniel Averso (7th – 6-2.75).

Senior Sarah Gretzmacher took second in the javelin with a mark of 130-6. Gretzmacher also managed fourth in the long jump with an effort of 18-5, which was a personal-best mark for the Lady Bulldog heptathlete.

Also, junior Courtney Hall finished third in the 400 hurdles (1:07.38) and Casey Herndon, a Bulldog who transferred from LSU, took second in the pole vault after clearing 15-7 as an unattached competitor.

Late Friday, senior Jennifer Dahlgren, who won the hammer throw earlier in the day, took third in the shot put with an effort of 43-8.50.

Full results and recaps from the Georgia Relays can found at georgiadogs.com. Georgia’s next action at Spec Towns Track is April 13-14 with the Spec Towns National Team Invitational and the Bulldog Heptathlon.

Georgia Winners

Name

Event

Mark

FRIDAY

Jennifer Dahlgren	Hammer	214 feet, 1 inch
Kyle Helf	Shot put	61-3
Shenae Dawkins	Triple jump	41-5.2

SATURDAY

Julianne Toto	Pole vault	12-1.50
Stewart, Dickens	4x100 relay	40.03
Etelman, Proctor
Justin Gaymon	110 hurdles	14.17
Krista Woodward	Javelin	180
Josipa Jelicic	Discus	169-2
Keelan Knox	400 hurdles	52.36
Nate Rolfe	Discus	191-1

Georgia's Regional Qualifying Marks/Times

Name

Event

Mark

FRIDAY

Nate Rolfe	Hammer	209 feet, 2 inches
Helf	Hammer	201-6
Helf	Shot put	61-3
Dahlgren	Hammer	214-1
Dawkins	Triple jump	41-5.25

SATURDAY

Stewart, Dickens	4x100 relay	40.03
Etelman, Proctor
Justin Gaymon	110 hurdles	14.17
Krista Woodward	Javelin	180
Josipa Jelicic	Discus	169-2
Keelan Knox	400 hurdles	52.36
Nate Rolfe	Discus	191-11
Daniel Vanek	Discus	178-2
Israel Machovec	Discus	173-

University of Georgia Athletics

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