Reinhardt Takes Flight in Outdoor Opener in G.A.T.A. Classic
Photo Courtesy of Georgia Southern Athletics
STATESBORO, Ga. – (Results) The Reinhardt outdoor track and field season got off to a great start this weekend at the G.A.T.A. Classic at Eagle Field – the first outdoor track meet for the Eagles in over 650 days.
The hometown team, who only took 13 competitors, was able to post a second place finish out of eight squads with a cumulative total of 143 points.
To view the full results from the event, please click here.
"It was strange to see hammer, javelin and 400-hurdles after missing all of last year," head coach Jordan Turner said. "All 13 athletes we took this weekend hit a conference qualifying mark, with many notching multiple qualifying marks. That's the goal with these first couple of meets and I'm excited to get a bigger group chasing the same thing next week. Our throws, sprints and jumps group really dominated their events this weekend so they should be very confident moving forward. To only take 13 guys and almost take home the team win is incredible. We've had conference-champion caliber teams that I've done similar things within the past couple of years, so I like what I see on the men's side right now.
"Johnny had a perfect start to his outdoor season by locking up an NAIA National Meet standard in the hammer throw and setting a school and personal record in the process – 52.33m – a solid early-season throw and I look for that number to only increase this season. Braden ran two great races in the 1500m and 800m to set to huge personal bests and a school record in the 1500m. He's come out hungry this semester and I look forward to him taking down many more records and continuing to get better. Dez was able to put together two great season-opening races in the 100m and 200m; the fastest season openers of his career."
Men's Track Highlight
Braden Ray
1500m: 4:07.71 (2nd of 9). School record in the 1500m and best time in the AAC this season by 15 seconds; currently No. 2 in the NAIA.
800m: 1:59.04 (4th of 15). Best time in the AAC this season by six seconds; currently No. 2 in the NAIA.
Men's Field Highlight
Jonathan Paolozzi
Hammer Throw: 52.33m (1st of 4). NAIA "B" standard. Currently No. 1 in the NAIA and a school record.
Discus Throw: 38.12m (1st of 10)
Javelin Throw: 33.73m (2nd of 8)
Shot Put: 11.91m (3rd of 6)
Next up is the CIU Invitational on March 19.
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For more information on Reinhardt Men's Outdoor Track & Field, please click here.