Track Notches Eleven Victories At Samford Invite

Friday, January 21

Birmingham, AL

All Day

University of Georgia

Samford Invite

January 21, 2022 | Track & Field

2022 Samford Invite Full Results

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The Bulldogs accumulated 11 wins during the one-day Samford Invite in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday, highlighted by two of the country's top-five marks.

Fresh off a long jump/200-meter dash sweep in last weekend's opener, junior Matthew Boling ran the fifth fastest 60m time in the country this year with a 6.60 to win.  This time ranks second on Georgia's all-time top-10 list and is the best for the Bulldogs since 2017.

Boling won the prelims with a 6.65.  His senior teammate Delano Dunkley tied for the fourth in the final after speeding to a 6.69, which ties for fourth in the school record books.

Freshman Elena Kulichenko recorded two straight second attempt clearances in the high jump, including a collegiate personal best of 6 feet to win the event.  This stands at the fifth-best mark in the nation this year.

This was the first of two trips to the Birmingham CrossPlex for the Bulldogs this year.  This season's NCAA Indoor Championships will also be at the facility on March 11-12.

Full Results: For results to Friday's meet, please visit: http://gado.gs/8ae

The Lowdown: Junior transfer Ana da Silva started the day off in fine fashion for the Bulldogs by winning the women's shot put with the longest throw of her career.  The Ribeirao das Neves, Brazil, native lifted her fifth attempt a personal record distance of 16.82m (55-2.25).  This meet record is the second longest in Georgia history and best for the Lady Bulldogs since 2013.  da Silva's toss ranks sixth in the NCAA this year and helped complete a sweep of the shot put for UGA on Friday.

Freshman Victoria Perrow demanded more attention in her career debut by winning the 60m with a 7.35.  This time ranks fourth on Georgia's all-time top-10 list and in the top 20 nationally coming into the weekend.  Junior Brandee Presley (7.44), who was also making her Lady Bulldog debut, finished third with what tied as the 10^th-best time in UGA history.

One spot behind Presley in the final was freshman Kenondra Davis, who is the reigning SEC Freshman of the Week and who finished in 7.49.  Davis' 7.39 from the prelims on Friday improved her previous personal best of 7.43 from last week and shot her to No. 6 on the all-time list.

In the opening round of the 60m, Perrow won the group with an identical 7.35.

Sophomore Gavin Beverage complemented da Silva's finish by winning the men's shot put with a personal record.  Working up to a mark of 18.17m (59-7.50) on his third attempt, Beverage then lifted his fifth try 18.47 (60-7.25).  This personal best paired with his second-best mark that came on his third attempt topped Alabama's Jerimiah Evans (18.47m, 60-7.25), who had a second-best mark of 18.15m (59-6.75).

Junior Kyle Garland also competed in the shot put as he trains for his first heptathlon of the season.  He opened with a season-best mark of 15.38m (50-5.50) and then passed on his final three attempts to finish seventh.

Competing for the first time as a Bulldog, freshman Nikolai van Huyssteen tallied a victory after passing over the pole vault bar at 5.07m (16-7.50).

The Bulldogs went 1-2-3 in the men's 400m with 2020 Olympian Elija Godwin leading the charge,  The Covington, Ga., native was the only competitor to break 48 seconds with a 47.73 while junior Caleb Cavanaugh was second with a 48.23 and freshman Bryce McCray earned bronze honors with a 48.40.

Another victory came from senior Halle McClintock in the 800m.  Leaving the field behind by nearly three seconds, McClintock ran a 2:09.95 for the win after finishing fourth in the event last weekend.

Freshman Eddiyah Frye secured another first-place finish for Georgia in the 60m hurdle final after completing the distance in 8.27.  Fellow true freshman Bella Witt, who was making her career debut, earned runner-up honors with an 8.33, which is tied for ninth on the school's all-time top-10 list.  During the 60m hurdle prelims, Frye was the top qualifier at 8.31 and Witt ran an 8.42 to be second.

In the women's long jump, senior Titiana Marsh bumped up her runner-up finish from last week to a victory this week.  Improving throughout her series, Marsh concluded her six-jump series with a mark of 6.17m (20-3) to win by more than a foot.

The mile was highlighted by junior Wesley John continuing his improvement with a personal best 4:12.04 for second place.  Clay Pender, Will Bray, Noah Hayes and Tyler Fox completed the 4-5-6-7 spots, respectively.

In the men's 800m, junior Clay Pender completed the sweep after registering a 1:54.52.  John finished just behind with a 1:54.72 for second.

Reaching a personal record of 17.30m (56-9.25) on her third try in the weight throw, redshirt sophomore Elsie Igberaese watched her fourth attempt sail a personal best 17.55m (57-7) and she completed the competition in fourth.  Mia Anderson (16.44m, 53-11.25 – 8^th) and da Silva (16.12m, 52-10.75 – 9^th) combined to give the Lady Bulldogs' three personal bests in the event.

Senior Alencar Pereira wrapped up the weight throw with a second-place finish after his fourth throw measured 20.32m (66-8).

Up Next: Following Friday's meet, the Bulldogs are slated to compete at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., on Jan. 28-29.

How To 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 at georgiadogs.com.