Comenentia’s National Record Gives Him NCAA Lead

Thursday, April 18

Torrance, Ca.

All Day

University of Georgia

Mt. SAC Relays

April 18, 2019 | Track & Field

TORRANCE, Ca. --- Georgia track and field senior Denzel Comenentia opened his team's competition at the Mt. SAC Relays by taking control of the NCAA lead in the hammer throw with a national record in Torrance, Ca., on Thursday.

Comenentia, a native of Amsterdam, topped his own Dutch national record, was the top collegiate finisher (second overall), shot to the NCAA lead by nearly eight feet and surged to fifth on the 2019 world list with his performance.  This effort improved his No. 2 spot on the school's all-time top-10 list.

Opening with a mark of 247 feet, 3 inches, Comenentia followed with a fourth try of 246-11.  On his fifth attempt, Comenentia went 252-0 to establish a fresh personal record.  His mark topped his former Dutch national record of 250-8 set while winning the 2018 NCAA championship.  Only Nike's Marcel Lomnicky, who is the older brother of former Bulldog NCAA champion Nikola Lomnicka, was better than Comenentia on Thursday after he concluded his series with a 253-1.

On the track, junior Jonathan Pelham completed his 3000-meter steeplechase laps in 9:20.68 to be the third collegiate finisher (fourth overall) to be the only other Bulldog competing during the meet's first day.

Georgia begins its second day at the Mt. SAC Relays on Friday at 2 p.m. with Johannes Erm and Karel Tilga the men's 110m hurdle prelims.  A number of Bulldogs will also compete at the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta on Friday while junior Marie-Therese Obst will throw the javelin at the Beach Invitational in Long Beach, Ca., at 2:30 p.m.

Results and recaps from the Mt. SAC Relays, Beach Invitational and Yellow Jacket Invitational will be found at georgiadogs.com.  News and updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams are always located on Twitter/Instagram at@UGATrack.