Albany’s Augenstein earns personal best, Georgia Bulldogs begin Indoor Track and Field Season at Clemson

CLEMSON, S.C. — Georgia’s track and field teams started their indoor season at the Clemson Invitational with a series of victories and improvements to the school record books on Friday.

Georgia collected seven wins/top collegiate finishes on day one: Sophia Baker (women’s mile), KC Heron (men’s mile), Hossam Hatib (men’s 400-meter dash), Haley Tate (women’s 400m), Kaila Jackson (women’s 60m), Jehlani Gordon (men’s 60m) and Zavien Wolfe (men’s long jump).

Albany native Charlotte Augenstein started her season with a personal best in the 1000m (2:51.30) to take second. In the 60m hurdle final, Bella Witt was the second collegiate finisher (fourth overall) after completing the race in 8.34.

When Do The Bulldogs Start Saturday?: Saturday’s action begins with All-American junior Elena Kulichenko making her season debut in the high jump at 10:30 a.m. On the track, sophomore Aaliyah Butler will start the action at 12 p.m. in the 300m.

Where To Catch The Clemson Invite: There will be ESPN streaming coverage on Saturday (11 a.m.).

SEC Network+ info:

Day Two – Saturday, January 13

SEC Network+ – http://gado.gs/b8y

The Lowdown: The 2023 NCAA runner-up in the women’s 60m and another First Team All-American from last year set the tone in their first 60m of the year. Jackson clocked a national leading 7.19 to win the event while Wilson came in two spots later with a 7.28. In the 60m prelims, Jackson won the third heat with a 7.29 while Wilson was first in her group and third overall with a 7.38.

First-year sprinter Jehlani Gordon quickly claimed the men’s 60m title with the third-fastest time in UGA history of 6.60. Gordon’s time also currently stands third on the country’s descending order list. Another pair of freshmen in Micah Larry and Brody Buffington sat out the final but flexed their muscle in the prelims. Larry was the top finisher in the prelims with the No. 5 time in UGA history (6.64) while Buffington crossed the line behind him with a 6.69 for the No. 8 time in the Bulldog record books. Gordon advanced to the final with a 6.74.

Newcomers Zavien Wolfe and Larry also competed for the first time collegiately in the long jump. Wolfe surged into the No. 3 spot on the national list and No. 9 spot in the school record books to finish as the top collegiate finisher (second overall) with a second attempt of 7.67 meters/25 feet, 2 inhes. Larry took off on his second try and traveled 7.65m/25-1.25 to move into a tie at No. 4 on the national list and No. 10 on Georgia’s top-10 list to be third overall.

Yet another newcomer, junior transfer Kelsie Murrell-Ross, built to a round four toss of 18.63m/61-1.50 to take third in the weight throw. Murrell-Ross’ effort put her 10th on UGA’s all-time top-10 list.

Baker registered Georgia’s first victory of 2024 by improving her career best to 4:53.00 to finish first in the mile. Teammate Katherine Law also logged a PR in the mile with a 5:02.16 for fourth. Georgia completed the sweep in the mile with KC Heron (4:08.11), Zack Truitt (4:10.81) and Heron’s twin, Cole Heron (4:11.04), going 1-2-3.

During her second year in the red and black, Haley Tate was the top collegiate finisher (third overall) in the 400m after matching her PR in the 400m with a 54.36. Also of note, current Georgia assistant Bailey Lear ran unattached and was the runner-up with a 52.62.

On the men’s side, transfer Hossam Hatib made his UGA debut and was the only competitor to break 47 seconds with a 46.99 to claim the 400m victory.

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