Track Posts Four National Leading Marks

Friday, January 15

All Day

University of Georgia

Clemson Invitational

January 15, 2021 | Track & Field

Clemson Invite - Day 1 Photos Photo Gallery

CLEMSON, S.C. --- Georgia's track and field teams racked up four of the country's top marks and nine individual victories during the opening day of the indoor season at the Clemson Invitational in Clemson, S.C., on Friday.

Senior Jessica Drop (mile), sophomore Matthew Boling (60-meter dash), sophomore Jasmine Moore (long jump) and sophomore Julia Fixsen (pole vault) all wrapped up their first action of 2021 as national leaders.  Boling also had a victory in the long jump and senior Chelsea Zoller (600m), sophomore Caleb Cavanaugh (600m), junior Imani Carothers (60m hurdles) and senior Destiny Jackson (60m) all tallied top honors in their events.

On Saturday, junior Sakari Famous, sophomore Anna Hall and sophomore Shelby Tyler will compete in the women's high jump, junior Labo Oke will line up in the men's triple jump and freshman Gavin Beverage, redshirt sophomore Kyle Garland, sophomore Karel Tilga and redshirt sophomore Ziggy Zoller are entered in the men's shot put will start the day at 11 a.m.

For the women, junior Anna Marian Block and senior Halle McClintock will begin the meet's final day in the 800 meters at 12:20 p.m.

Live Results: For live results to the Clemson Invitational, please visit: http://gado.gs/5vn

Kyprianou's Comments: "I'm proud of our young men and women today as they showed up with a mission in mind despite an empty facility and slowly run meet," said head coach Petros Kyprianou.  "Like I told them, we have to adjust to these new circumstances and make the best of it.  We had some very solid marks today especially in our strong events.  Some bright marks were personal bests of Matt Boling in the 60, the hurdle times for Anna Hall and Imani Carothers and of course one of our stars, Jessica Drop, and her very promising 4:39 mile.  Overall this was a great opener for the Dawgs given how long it has been they competed on an elevated track and competing in general.  We needed to create some momentum and I think these young Dawgs are just excited and thankful to be able to compete at the highest level!"

The Low Down: While Clemson did not allow fans in because of the COVID-19 protocols, the Bulldogs were still able to generate excitement for both teams for the coming campaign.

Moore sandwiched a mark of 20 feet, 3 inches between two fouls to be the top collegiate finisher (second overall) and shoot up into the national lead.  The only competitor who topped her was former Bulldog NCAA champion Chanice Porter, who improved her own 21-1.25 on her first try to 21-4.25 on her third try to move to No. 2 on the 2021 world list and win the overall competition.

Creeping near her personal best, junior Titiana Marsh opened with a mark of 20-2.25 to be the second collegiate finisher in the long jump (third overall).  Her mark stands second nationally.

Boling sped to the third-fastest time in school history with a 6.64 to win the 60m final.  This is the fastest time in the NCAA this year and was ranked third in the world in 2021 coming into the weekend.  Sophomore teammate Elija Godwin was the runner-up with a 6.80.  Senior Delano Dunkley posted his best time as a Bulldog with a 6.86 for fourth.

During the prelims, Boling registered a then national leading time of 6.70, which was the second-fastest time of his career, to win the 60m and Godwin was second at 6.82.  Dunkley (6.91) and sophomore Curtis Borden (6.98) gave the Bulldogs four of the eight qualifiers.

Boling completed the sweep after his third try in the long jump measured 24-6.25 to finish well ahead of the field.  Opening with a foul, Boling's second attempt was a mark of 24-5.50 to take an early lead.

Picking up with the same momentum where she left off in 2020, Fixsen went over the bar in the pole vault at a national leading height of 13-9.25 to grab top honors.  Friday's runner-up was senior Kayla Smith, who worked up to a second try clearance at 13-5.25.

Jessica Drop wasted no time rocketing to No. 3 in the school record books with her finish in the mile.  She registered a 4:39.83, which bounced her No. 4 mark on the all-time list up one spot, gave her the win and secured her with the nation's top time this year.  Twin sister Samantha Drop ran a 4:53.27 to finish third.

Also of note, Block helped set the pace for the Drops in the mile and will return in the 800m on Saturday.

Carothers battled for the top collegiate finish (second overall) in the 60m hurdle final with an 8.28.  This time entered the weekend as the country's second best this year.  Hall, who is training for her upcoming combined event competitions, was third in the final thanks to a personal record of 8.43.  The NCAA pentathlon record holder, former Lady Bulldog and 2016 Olympian Kendell Williams, won overall thanks to her 8.11.

In the qualifying round, Carothers won her heat and finished second overall with an 8.36. Hall advanced to the final with a then personal best of 8.48 to take four overall in her first race.

Cavanaugh jumpstarted his second year by winning the 600m.  He crossed the line in 1:22.34 to edge Georgia Tech's Jameson Miller at 1:22.77.

During the women's 600m, Chelsea Zoller was also the top collegiate finisher (second overall) with a time of 1:36.66.

Another win came from Jackson in the women's 60m.  She edged the field by .04 to be her race's top finisher with a 7.63.

Redshirt sophomore Clay Pender took the track in the men's mile for the first time since 2019 and finished third (4:17.41).

As former Bulldog All-American Garrett Scantling cruised to a victory in the 60m hurdles, Tilga (8.34) and Ziggy Zoller (8.38) finished third and fourth overall, respectively.

Keep Up With The Dogs: Updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams can always be found on Twitter/Instagram (UGATrack) and Snapchat (ugatrack).