True freshman Lynna Irby recorded her second national leading time of the weekend to complete the second day of the Razorback Invitational on Saturday.
Irby clocked a 51.48 to win the 400-meter dash Invitational, which is the fastest time for the Lady Bulldogs since 2013 on Shaunae Miller’s school record mark of 50.88 to win the 2013 NCAA title.
Irby, a native of Indianapolis, Ind., sped to a 22.96 to win the 200m on Friday with the world’s only sub-23 second time this year. Her finish topped a 22-year-old school record.
“Today I can say once more it is great to be a Georgia Bulldog after watching this team firing on every cylinder and in pretty much every event,” said head coach Petros Kyprianou. “Lynna obviously stole the show again today with her phenomenal 400m race and is showing she’s here to stay. That was what I have been waiting for in generating some more leadership especially in the sprints. The heptathletes took care of business and got themselves in position to qualify for the NCAA meet. That was our goal and we did it.
“However, we have a long ways to go and lots of consistency to achieve. I am very proud of our distance people and the way they have been competing all year. The men’s short sprinters proved once again that our men’s team is strong and we are here to stay. All in all this was a tremendous showing by the track and field Bulldogs with a plethora of world class performances, personal records and season bests. One day at a day at a time, one NCAA qualifier at a time and we will continue having fun and preparing ourselves for the ‘Big Dance’ in March. Like I mentioned in the past, success and excitement is contagious and we want to spread it throughout the team as they all have accepted our motto of finding your greatness.”
Junior Michael Nicholls improved his No. 3 in the school record books with a personal record of 7.79 to take second in the 60m hurdle final. Nicholls won the prelims with a personal best of 7.82.
The national leader in the men’s shot put, junior Denzel Comenentia launched an effort of 65 feet, 4 ¼ inches on his third attempt to win the competition by more than a foot.
Senior Cejhae Greene established a fresh No. 2 mark in the school record books by winning the 60m final with a 6.63. Greene also finished first in the prelims after matching his career best with a 6.66.
Senior Karl Saluri and freshman Johannes Erm took over the third and sixth-best heptathlon marks in the nation this season to win and finish third. Saluri scored 5,866 points to win by 89 points while Erm took over the No. 7 spot on the school’s all-time top-10 list with 5,679 points.
Sophomore Amber Tanner shot to No. 4 on the Lady Bulldogs’ all-time top-10 list by taking second in the 800m. Tanner registered a 2:06.77 with the best UGA time since 2014.