University of Georgia Athletics
Track & Field Experiences More `Positives' Saturday Meet
January 29, 2011 | Track & Field
Jan. 29, 2011
Complete Results in PDF Format 
COLLEGE STATION, TX. --- Georgia's track and field teams completed the two-day Big 12 vs. SEC Challenge in College Station, Texas, with a flurry of personal-best efforts and a pair of wins on Saturday.
Both junior Aaron Evans (800 meters) and junior Colleen Felix (triple jump) tallied victories while Bulldog competitors in a variety of events posted the top performances of their careers during the second indoor meet of the season.
"There were a lot of positives but we obviously weren't sharp and have many things to work on," said head coach Wayne Norton. "We haven't had a full week of practice yet since we got back (after the semester break) so I believe with time, we will begin to improve and start reaching the goals that we have set. We have a history of stepping our performances up in the month of February so hopefully they same will continue this year."
Norton added that he was pleased with the performance of his four freshmen - Stella Christoforou, Megan Malasarte, Savannah Kirk and Ashley Shiver - in the distance medley relay on Friday night, especially pointing out Shiver's anchor leg. The quartet was second in the race with the second-fastest time in school history (11:35.38).
On Saturday, Evans made his debut in the 800, an event that he earned All-American honors in during the 2010 outdoor season, and won with a time of 1:50.49. This is the second-best time of his indoor career.
In the women's 800, Christoforou clocked the eighth-best time in school history (2:11.72) to finish fourth while Malasarte was eighth (2:15.61).
Felix, who went into the weekend with the nation's top triple jump mark, reached 43 feet, 1 inch on her fourth attempt to win her second consecutive meet. Latroya Darrell (4th - 41-4.50) and Maria Augutis (6th - 40-9.75) gave Georgia three jumpers who hit the 40-foot mark on Saturday.
"I'm proud of Colleen establishing consistency at a high level," said Norton. "She had another pretty good mark at this meet and managed another win which is always the goal."
After sophomore Lucie Ondraschkova recorded a significant personal best to take second in the pentathlon on Friday night, the Bulldogs managed to take second, fourth and fifth when the heptathlon was complete on Saturday.
Michael Ayers shot to the No. 2 spot in the school record books after piling up 5,553 points through seven events to take second overall. Teammate and fellow transfer Ben Davies was fourth in the competition after tallying the fourth-most points in UGA history (5,378).
Senior Tommy Barrineau, who is the defending SEC heptathlon champion, was fifth after scoring 5,333 points. Barrineau and Ayers finished 1-2, respectively, in the pole vault after going over the bar at 15-7.
"All of our multi-eventers will improve with time," said Norton. "They all did pretty well this weekend, but I know they can do better."
Several freshmen throwers also continued their development as they completed their second collegiate meets. Justin Welch followed three fouls with a personal-best mark of 65-3.50 in the weight throw to take third behind two seniors.
In the women's weight, senior Alesha Asijie was second with an effort of 60-10.50.
In the women's shot put, Hilenn James launched a collegiate personal-best throw of 48-3.50 to take seventh and move to No. 6 on the Lady Bulldogs' all-time top-10 list. Caleb Whitener finished one spot behind senior Israel Machovec (56-0.50) in the men's shot put for third place after reaching a career-best distance of 55-3.50.
"Our whole group of freshmen throwers is showing promise and if they keep working, they will get to that elite level that all of them are shooting for," Norton said.
Also of note, senior Aaron LaGarde battled to hit the 50-foot mark for the second straight competition after finishing third in the triple jump (50-4).
Full results and a recap from the Big 12 vs. SEC Challenge will also be located at georgiadogs.com.
Georgia returns to action at the Virginia Tech Elite in Blacksburg, Va., on Feb. 4-5.
