Track Splits Squads To Tiger Paw Invite, Music City Challenge

Friday, February 11

Clemson, SC

All Day

University of Georgia

Tiger Paw Invitational

Track Splits Squads To Tiger Paw Invite, Music City Challenge

February 10, 2022 | Track & Field

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ATHENS, Ga. --- The Bulldog track and field teams will compete at both the Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson, S.C., as well as the Music City Challenge in Nashville, Tenn., on Friday and Saturday.

Georgia also split squads to these meets last year and has traveled to the Tigers' home at least once for the last six years.  Prior to last year, the last time the Bulldogs competed on Vanderbilt's campus at the Music City meet was in 2017 when the Commodores also hosted that year's Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships.

Graduate transfer Ty Kunzman will compete in the open weight throw for the second time as a Bulldog and start the competition off for UGA at 11 a.m. ET Friday at the Tiger Paw.  Senior Imani Carothers and freshman Eddiyah Frye will be the first Bulldog competitors on the track in the 60-meter hurdle qualifying round at 12 p.m.

In Nashville, the distance events begin at 6 p.m. with the women's mile, including Lady Bulldogs Anna Marian Block, Charlotte Augenstein, Sophia Baker and Nicole John.

Fresh Rankings: The Bulldog men are ranked fourth and the Georgia women stand 24^th in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) polls.

The Competition: Georgia and meet host Clemson will join representatives from Tennessee, Texas, USC, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Harvard, Hampton, North Carolina A&T, Central Florida, Auburn, Ohio State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, North Carolina, Houston, Kentucky, Syracuse, Kansas, Villanova and Virginia at the Tiger Paw meet.

The Bulldogs traveling to Nashville will face student-athletes from Vanderbilt, Alabama, Arkansas State, Cincinnati, Duke, Eastern Kentucky, FIU, Florida, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Kennesaw State, Kentucky, Lipscomb, LSU, Memphis, Meridian Community College, Miami [Ohio], Michigan State, Mississippi State, Murray State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Samford, SMU, Southern Illinois, Southern Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M, UMass Lowell, Villanova and Western Illinois at the Music City Challenge.

Live Action/Results: For live results to the Tiger Paw meet, please visit: http://gado.gs/8du

For live video footage of the Tiger Paw meet, please visit:
Day 1: http://gado.gs/8em
Day 2: http://gado.gs/8eo

For live results to the Music City meet, please visit: http://gado.gs/8e8

For live video footage of the Music City meet, please visit:
Day 1 - http://gado.gs/8ea
Day 2 - http://gado.gs/8ec

Coach Caryl's Comments: "We are excited to return to Clemson and to take a distance group to Nashville," said head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert.  "Being two weeks out from the SEC Indoor Championships, this is our last true opportunity to sharpen our performances in a meet atmosphere before the postseason gets here. I believe we have more to show on the track and in the field from the crew traveling to the Tiger Paw meet and I'll be watching for some breakout races in the distances at the Music City meet since they will be facing stiffer competition."

Who's Competing: Fourteen Georgia women and 11 Bulldog men are scheduled to travel to Clemson.  The Lady Bulldogs making the trip are: graduate transfer Jayla Kirkland, seniors Imani Carothers, Titiana Marsh, Halle McClintock, juniors Brandee Presley, Ana da Silva, Shelby Tyler, redshirt sophomores Elsie Igberaese, Mia Anderson, sophomore Michaela Prevallet and freshmen Eddiyah Frye, Kenondra Davis, Elena Kulichenko and Victoria Perrow.

In addition to the first men competing, Kunzman, seniors Alencar Pereira, Delano Dunkley, Elija Godwin, juniors Matthew Boling, Caleb Cavanaugh, Kyle Garland, Ziggy Zoller, sophomores Gavin Beverage, John Franco and freshman Nikolai van Huyssteen are scheduled to compete for the Bulldogs.

There are also 15 runners slated to make the trip to Tennessee: Block, juniors Sara Bailey, Grace Clements, John and Baker and Augenstein from the women's side and juniors Chase Condra, Wesley John, Clay Pender, Sam Bowers, Tyler Fox, redshirt sophomore Zachary Roe, sophomore KC Heron, redshirt freshman Noah Hayes and freshman Will Bray from the men's team.

Bowerman Hopeful: Boling was named to The Bowerman Watch List twice last year and has now earned a spot on the 2022 Watch List.  The Houston, Texas, native leads the nation in the 200m (20.27) and the long jump (8.25 meters/27 feet, 1 inch) and is ranked sixth in the country in the 60m (6.60).  While already setting school records this season in the long jump and 4x400m relay along with Cavanaugh, freshman Bryce McCray and Godwin (3:04.07), Boling is an undefeated 7-0 in races or field competitions indoors this year.

Bulldogs Making Their Debut: One Bulldog is scheduled to compete for the first time in red and black indoors.  Kirkland (FSU) transferred in to UGA and is expected to compete in the sprints.

Where Does The Indoor Season Take The Dogs: Following the weekend, Georgia has a single regular season meet scheduled.  The Bulldogs are slated to travel to the one-day USC Indoor Open in Columbia, S.C., on Feb. 18.

After that, the postseason begins with the SEC Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas, on Feb. 25-26.  Georgia will return to Birmingham, Ala., on March 11-12 for the NCAA Indoor Championships.  One week later, the outdoor season cranks up in Atlanta.

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.