Minichello, Ratcliffe Earn Victories To Open Tom Jones Memorial Invitational
April 12, 2024 | Track & Field
GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- Graduate transfers Marc Minichello (javelin) and Stephanie Ratcliffe (hammer throw) took first place in their respective events and three Bulldogs made improvements to the program's all-time top-10 lists at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational on Friday.
Minichello earned his second win in as many weeks with a mark of 81.03 meters/265 feet, 10 inches in the javelin. Meanwhile, Ratcliffe marked her Georgia debut with a winning hammer throw of 66.64m/162-6 to move into fourth in program history and fifth in the NCAA this season. Junior pole vaulter Nikolai van Huyssteen and senior distance runner Charlotte Augenstein also rose in the Georgia record books with their performances in the pole vault and 1,500-meter run, respectively.
When Do The Bulldogs Start Saturday?: The Bulldogs will resume action on Saturday with the men's 400m, slated to begin at 10:15 a.m. with Mekhi Gammons competing. Leah Anderson and Zavien Wolfe will participate in the triple jump starting at 11:30 a.m.
Where To Catch The Action: Live coverage of day two of the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational will begin on SEC Network+ at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday.
SECN+ Info:
Tom Jones Memorial Invitational – Day Two – Saturday, April 13
SECN+ – https://gado.gs/bq5
Live Results: For results throughout the weekend, please visit: https://gado.gs/bq6
The Lowdown: Minichello sent his fourth javelin attempt 81.03m/265-10 for his second win in the event this season. The native of West Pittston, Pa., claimed victory by seven feet and continues to hold the NCAA lead in the javelin.
Ratcliffe, a graduate transfer from Harvard, competed in the red and black for the first time, soaring into the Georgia record books with a mark of 66.64m/162-6 on her sixth and final attempt in the hammer throw. Her mark places her in fifth nationally this season.
Van Huyssteen cleared a height of 5.40m/17-8.50 in the pole vault invite to place fourth overall while setting a new lifetime best. The junior moved from seventh to second in program history with the mark, also sharing the 10th-best mark on the NCAA outdoor performance list for the 2024 season. Van Huyssteen sits just ½ inch shy of the school pole vault record.
Augenstein improved to No. 8 in Georgia history in the 1,500m, posting a time of 4:20.71 to finish ninth in Gainesville. The native of Albany, Ga., shaved just over a second off her previous outdoor personal best, set at last season's Raleigh Relays, to finish third in her heat while improving from ninth to eighth in the program record books.
Freshman Riyon Rankin finished runner-up in the high jump invite, clearing a season-best height of 2.21m/7-3 on his third attempt. He ranks fourth in the NCAA in the event and is the nation's top-ranked freshman high jumper.
Javelin thrower Erin McMeniman placed fourth in Gainesville with a mark of 49.54m/162-6 on her fifth attempt.
Sophomore sprinter Kaila Jackson clocked a time of 22.51 (W+4.1) to finish fourth in the 200m invite. Classmate Autumn Wilson placed 13th overall with a time of 22.98.
The Bulldogs had two representatives in the invite section of the men's shot put. Graduate student Alexander Kolesnikoff recorded an opening throw of 19.20m/63-0 to place sixth while senior Gavin Beverage finished ninth with a mark of 18.63m/61-1.50 on his second attempt.
On the women's side, Kelsie Murrell-Ross launched the shot put 16.60m/54-5.50 on her sixth and final attempt to post a seventh-place finish.
In the 400m hurdles invite, Dominique Mustin posted a time of 57.13 to place 12th overall while Zoe Pollock finished 20th with a time of 58.24.
Middle-distance runner Zack Truitt came within a second of his personal best in the 1,500m run, clocking a time of 3:46.66 to lead the Bulldogs in ninth place.
Where To Find Bulldogs News: 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 X/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Minichello earned his second win in as many weeks with a mark of 81.03 meters/265 feet, 10 inches in the javelin. Meanwhile, Ratcliffe marked her Georgia debut with a winning hammer throw of 66.64m/162-6 to move into fourth in program history and fifth in the NCAA this season. Junior pole vaulter Nikolai van Huyssteen and senior distance runner Charlotte Augenstein also rose in the Georgia record books with their performances in the pole vault and 1,500-meter run, respectively.
When Do The Bulldogs Start Saturday?: The Bulldogs will resume action on Saturday with the men's 400m, slated to begin at 10:15 a.m. with Mekhi Gammons competing. Leah Anderson and Zavien Wolfe will participate in the triple jump starting at 11:30 a.m.
Where To Catch The Action: Live coverage of day two of the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational will begin on SEC Network+ at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday.
SECN+ Info:
Tom Jones Memorial Invitational – Day Two – Saturday, April 13
SECN+ – https://gado.gs/bq5
Live Results: For results throughout the weekend, please visit: https://gado.gs/bq6
The Lowdown: Minichello sent his fourth javelin attempt 81.03m/265-10 for his second win in the event this season. The native of West Pittston, Pa., claimed victory by seven feet and continues to hold the NCAA lead in the javelin.
Ratcliffe, a graduate transfer from Harvard, competed in the red and black for the first time, soaring into the Georgia record books with a mark of 66.64m/162-6 on her sixth and final attempt in the hammer throw. Her mark places her in fifth nationally this season.
Van Huyssteen cleared a height of 5.40m/17-8.50 in the pole vault invite to place fourth overall while setting a new lifetime best. The junior moved from seventh to second in program history with the mark, also sharing the 10th-best mark on the NCAA outdoor performance list for the 2024 season. Van Huyssteen sits just ½ inch shy of the school pole vault record.
Augenstein improved to No. 8 in Georgia history in the 1,500m, posting a time of 4:20.71 to finish ninth in Gainesville. The native of Albany, Ga., shaved just over a second off her previous outdoor personal best, set at last season's Raleigh Relays, to finish third in her heat while improving from ninth to eighth in the program record books.
Freshman Riyon Rankin finished runner-up in the high jump invite, clearing a season-best height of 2.21m/7-3 on his third attempt. He ranks fourth in the NCAA in the event and is the nation's top-ranked freshman high jumper.
Javelin thrower Erin McMeniman placed fourth in Gainesville with a mark of 49.54m/162-6 on her fifth attempt.
Sophomore sprinter Kaila Jackson clocked a time of 22.51 (W+4.1) to finish fourth in the 200m invite. Classmate Autumn Wilson placed 13th overall with a time of 22.98.
The Bulldogs had two representatives in the invite section of the men's shot put. Graduate student Alexander Kolesnikoff recorded an opening throw of 19.20m/63-0 to place sixth while senior Gavin Beverage finished ninth with a mark of 18.63m/61-1.50 on his second attempt.
On the women's side, Kelsie Murrell-Ross launched the shot put 16.60m/54-5.50 on her sixth and final attempt to post a seventh-place finish.
In the 400m hurdles invite, Dominique Mustin posted a time of 57.13 to place 12th overall while Zoe Pollock finished 20th with a time of 58.24.
Middle-distance runner Zack Truitt came within a second of his personal best in the 1,500m run, clocking a time of 3:46.66 to lead the Bulldogs in ninth place.
Where To Find Bulldogs News: 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 X/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Players Mentioned
Multis
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Javelin
/ Track & Field
Javelin
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Jumps
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