May 12, 2017
THE FLATS — Georgia Tech track and field’s Ksenia Novikova and Melissa Fairey earned All-ACC second team honors to kick off the 2017 ACC Outdoor Championships on Friday at the George C. Griffin Track. Four Jackets advanced to the finals.
Competition picks back up Saturday morning at 11 a.m. with the multi-events.
“It was a really good start to the weekend for the women with Ksenia Novikova and Melissa Fairey both scoring with their fifth-place finishes,” said women’s track and field head coach Alan Drosky. “Anna Hightower had a big personal best and just missed scoring. Charlotte and Amy both advancing to the 1500m final was big for the team. We need to keep the momentum rolling tomorrow.”
“I am very pleased with tonight’s results,” said men’s track and field head coach Grover Hinsdale. “We had two team members advance to the finals; Zach Gunnz in the 200m and Avery Bartlett in the 1500m. I am also pleased with Frank Pittman’s 1500m race; he did not advance but it was an exceptional effort. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. It is a very big day for our team.”
Novikova started off the day for the Jackets on the right foot, earning All-ACC second team honors with a fifth-place finish in the pole vault. She registered a mark of 4.03m and tallied four points for the Yellow Jackets. Anna Hightower reached a lifetime best in the pole vault, soaring to a mark of 3.88m.
Charlotte Stephens took third in her heat of the 1500m to advance to the finals with the automatic qualification. She clocked in at 4:26.75, a personal record for the junior. Amy Ruiz also advanced to the finals of the 1500m, turning in a career-best time of 4:25.69.
Melissa Fairey ended day one for the Jackets strong, taking fifth in the 10,000m with a time of 35:26.66 for All-ACC second team honors and scoring four points.
The Tech women end day one in a tie for seventh place with eight points.
On the men’s side, senior Zachary Gunnz advanced to the finals of the 200m on Sunday with a time of 21.36 in prelims. Avery Bartlett took an automatic bid to the finals of the 1500m, finishing second in his heat with a time of 3:49.26.
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