Obst Sets School Record In Dogs’ Outdoor Opener

Friday, March 19

Atlanta, Ga.

All Day

University of Georgia

Yellow Jacket Invitational

March 19, 2021 | Track & Field

ATLANTA, Ga. --- Bulldog senior Marie-Therese Obst tied the No. 10 all-time collegiate performer in the javelin with a school record to open the Yellow Jacket Invitational in Atlanta on Friday.

Obst, competing for the first time since the 2019 NCAA East Regional, worked up to a national leading toss of 194 feet, 11 inches on her fifth attempt to win by more than 63 feet.  The native of Oslo, Norway, topped a 14-year-old school record by 11 feet (Krista Woodward, 2007, 183-11) and equaled a showing of the No. 10 all-time collegiate performer.  Obst's second try measured 190-7 and also would have been a UGA record.

Junior transfer Alencar Pereira and freshman Charlotte Williams kick started the day for the Bulldogs by sweeping the hammer throw and Georgia also picked up three more victories during day one at the George C. Griffin Track on Georgia Tech's campus.

Action will start on Saturday with the women's high jump, pole vault and discus at 12 p.m. along with the men's triple jump.  The first Bulldog competing will be graduate transfer Julia Hall in the 400m.  Hall, who is the older sister of Georgia's 2021 Southeastern Conference pentathlon champion and All-American Anna Hall, will be making her debut in the red and black.

There will be no spectators allowed at the meet because of COVID-19 concerns.

Live Results: For live results to this weekend's meet, please visit: gado.gs/6ky

The Lowdown: On top of Obst's showing in the javelin, graduate transfer Jonathan Tharaldsen put a strong series together in the shot put and won with a mark of 63-10.50, which is the seventh-best mark in school history.  The Minnesota graduate had a second throw of 62-4.50 as sophomore Gavin Beverage opened his outdoor career by taking third (56-3.75).

Pereira, a native of Brazil, wasted no time locking up his first victory outdoors for the Bulldogs.  The 2019 NJCAA hammer champion launched his opening attempt 214-11 for the 43-foot victory.  Early in the outdoor season, this mark currently leads the country for the former Barton CC/Nebraska transfer.

Williams, a native of Clitheroe, England, completed the sweep in the hammer after sending her sixth and final throw 196-4.  This was the ninth-longest throw in Lady Bulldog history and delivered her a 26-foot victory.  So far in 2021, Williams' toss is the sixth longest in the NCAA this year.

The Bulldogs went 1-2 in the men's 5000m as freshman Zachary Roe (14:52.93) edged redshirt sophomore teammate Tyler Fox (14:56.97) for the win.  Another freshman, KC Heron (15:27.18), and senior John Bradley (15:38.42) went third and fourth, respectively.

Another win for UGA came when junior Anna Marian Block registered the ninth-fastest 1500m time (4:23.57) in school history and shot to an early No. 3 spot on the national performance list.  Block's finish was two spots in front of senior Amber Tanner, who finished in 4:27.85.  This was Tanner's first collegiate race since winning the 2020 SEC indoor 800m crown.

After her first outdoor season was canceled, sophomore Mia Anderson watched her fourth try in the hammer throw travel 164-11 to take fourth place.  Anderson returned in the shot put and had a top effort of 43-3.75 to also take fourth.

Taking the track for the first time in his collegiate career outdoors, sophomore Curtis Borden finished with runner-up honors in the 100m thanks to a 10.70.

In the men's javelin, junior Alec Collins lifted his third attempt 174-8 to earn bronze medal honors.

Also of note, sophomore Sara Bailey completed her laps in the 5000m in 17:13.03 to take fourth.

How To Keep Up With The Dogs: Results and recaps from the Bulldogs' outdoor season 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.