[su_spacer size=”40″] Orji traveled 21 feet, 8 ¾ inches to edge Julienne McKee (21-8.25) for the win in the long jump. This mark passed 2008 Olympic silver medalist Hyleas Fountain’s school record mark of 21-8.25 set in 2004. Then, Orji recorded a triple jump effort of 45-2.25 to best a 20-year-old school record of 45-0 set by Icolyn Kelly to win her second event of the day.
[su_spacer size=”40″] As a whole, the eighth-ranked Georgia women and the 11th-ranked Bulldog men had 12 top collegiate finishes on Saturday and altered three spots in the school record books.
[su_spacer size=”40″] “I sound like a broken record, but we were able to do about exactly what we needed to do at this meet,” said Bulldog head coach Wayne Norton. “The people we depend on to help get us where we want to be did what they needed to do. The highlights started with the decathlon and heptathlon results early in the week and continued in the men’s hammer on Friday.
[su_spacer size=”40″] “Today, the jumps took over. Morgann (Leleux) had one of her best performances in a while and looks to be on track. You can’t argue with two school records from Keturah. Chanice Porter got going in the long jump and will only be improving from here. Same with Leontia Kallenou in the high jump. She jumped (6 feet, 2 ¾ inches) in her season debut and has more in the tank.
[su_spacer size=”20″]
[su_spacer size=”40″] Orji completed her record-breaking day with three triple jumps that measured at least 43-7. The Mount Olive, N.J., native soared 45-2.25 on her fourth of four tries to win the competition by eight feet. Orji now stands No. 3 on the 2015 world list with the top mark by an American this year.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Opening with a mark of 20-10.75 and traveling 21-2 on her third try in the long jump, Orji finished up with her top effort of 21-8.75. This is the top mark for an American this year and ranks sixth in the world in 2015.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Orji’s junior teammate Chanice Porter also opened her season in the long jump and was the second collegiate finisher (third overall). Porter opened with a foul and finished with two consecutive jumps at 20-7.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Junior Morgann Leleux also posted a significant season opener in the women’s pole vault to win. Leleux cleared 14-3.25 on her first attempt to tie for fourth nationally and move to No. 2 on the current SEC list.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Junior Leontia Kallenou is coming off her third consecutive NCAA title in the high jump and did not disappoint on Saturday. She cleared 6-2.75 on her first try and won to shoot to No. 2 on the national performance list in just her first meet this outdoor season.
[su_spacer size=”40″] While former Bulldog and 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Reese Hoffa threw 69 feet for the win, senior Nick Vena posted the top collegiate finish and was second overall thanks to his second shot put try of 63-3.50.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Vena then took second in the discus with a season-best mark of 170-8 and junior Ashinia Miller launched the longest throw of his season (168-1) for third place.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Junior Shelby Ashe launched two fair throws in her series, one of which traveled 197-11 for the win. Similar to the men’s hammer, the Lady Bulldogs went 1-2 as Covington came within three inches of her season-best effort with a mark of 191-5.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Also on the throws, sophomore Asianna Covington improved to a season-best discus throw of 160-2 to win in her second event of the day.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Senior Caleb Ebbets grabbed top collegiate honors and was second overall in the pole vault with his best mark since 2012. The Leesburg, Ga., native went over the bar at 16-9.25 on his second try.
[su_spacer size=”20″]
[su_spacer size=”40″] Graduate student Jenna Wargo improved her No. 8 spot in the Lady Bulldogs’ all-time top-10 list after a fifth throw of 160-3 to take third in the javelin. Former Georgia standout Krista Woodward, who won four SEC titles and was a four-time All-American between 2003-07, was second with a throw of 163-3.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Lady Bulldogs cruised to the win and a runner-up finish in the 400-meter dash. Junior Ashley Henry (54.88) finished just ahead of freshman Devon Artis (54.97) as the third-place finisher ran a 57.23.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Freshman Katie Stone equaled her career best in the 100 to be the top collegiate finisher. She ran an 11.89 to take third overall.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Ashley Henry, Natalie Bordes, Devon Artis and Sarah Gardner also combined to win the 4×400 relay after running a 3:53.54.
[su_spacer size=”40″] In the women’s shot put, freshman Anna Machovec lifted her second attempt a personal-best distance of 45-7 to take third. She also had a throw of 45-6.25, which would have been a career-best attempt as well.
[su_spacer size=”40″] A select group of Bulldogs travel to Walnut, Calif., for the Mt. SAC Relays on April 16-18. Georgia’s final of three home meets in Athens arrive May 9 with the Georgia Invitational.