(Photo by John Kelley)
[su_spacer size=”40″] “We had some bright spots today from a few of our athletes who do not normally get much notice,” said Bulldog head coach Wayne Norton. “Christian Harrison, Ashley Henry and Devon Artis led the way for our troops in dropping their times. Combined with our Mt. SAC results, (Chanice) Porter’s jumping and the distance performances last night, we managed a very good weekend. We can be better, and we have about four to six weeks to get there.”
[su_spacer size=”40″] In Atlanta, junior Ashley Henry ran the seventh-best time in Lady Bulldog history (53.56) to finish fourth in the 400-meter dash. This is the best time for the Georgia women since Shaunae Miller set the school record (50.70) in 2013. Additionally, freshman Devon Artis ran a lifetime best of 54.87 to take 13th.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Consequently, Miller ran a 22.50 to take over the 2015 world lead in the 200 at a professional meet this weekend.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Also in the sprints, Reggie Glover, Drew Branch, Raytez Jenkins and Jamario Calhoun ran the nation’s seventh-best 4×400 relay time this year with a 3:06.07, which ranks 10th in the Bulldog record books.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Calhoun also ran the second-fastest time of his career in the 200 to earn runner-up honors. He registered a 20.95 after running a lifetime best 20.93 on the Georgia Tech track earlier this year.
[su_spacer size=”40″] With his two 800 training partners competing out west, junior Christian Harrison clocked the fastest time of his UGA career to finish fourth. Harrison ran a 1:49.92 in the 69-man field.
[su_spacer size=”40″] At the Mt. SAC meet, sophomore Alex Poursanidis experienced the second-best performance of his young career to take seventh in the hammer. Poursanidis slipped a throw of 224 feet, 8 inches in on his fifth attempt. Fellow sophomore Alex Larsson finished ninth in the hammer with a mark of 206 feet.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Bulldogs also finished fourth and sixth in the men’s shot put Invitational. Senior Nick Vena opened with a toss of 62-9.25 to finish fourth while junior Ashinia Miller watched his third throw travel 61-3.
[su_spacer size=”40″] One of Harrison’s 800 teammates, senior Charles Grethen, finished second in his heat with a season-best time of 1:48.48. The Bulldogs’ third 800 runner, junior Kisean Smith, also clocked a season-best time at the Mt. SAC meet on Friday.
[su_spacer size=”40″] A number of Bulldogs will return to action in Des Moines, Iowa, on April 23-25 for the Drake Relays. Georgia hosts its third and final home meet of the season on May 9 in Athens with the Georgia Invitational. The SEC Championships arrive in Starkville, Miss., on May 14-16.