The Red and Black

Issue date: 5/14/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: JIM DIFFLY Georgia's Michelle Thompson ranks as the best javelin thrower in the SEC. [Click to enlarge]

The Georgia track and field team travels to Gainesville, Fla. today, to looking bring home a Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship.

The Bulldogs had a disappointing showing at the conference's indoor championships, as the men placed eighth and the women finished in 11th. Both squads seek to improve upon those finishes this weekend.

"[During our last meet] we wanted to be technically ready for the SEC [Tournament], and then hopefully qualify for regionals at the SEC's," said head coach Wayne Norton. "These last meets are like a stepping stone to having our best at the SECs, which is where it is most important."

Georgia should receive a major boost from their throwers, especially the javelin throwers who do not participate in indoor events. Juniors Chris Hill and Michelle Thompson both sit atop the SEC performance lists by wide margins - Thompson leads by more than 15 feet and Hill by 39 feet.

Senior Justin Gaymon also sits atop the SEC in the 400-meter hurdles, where the All-American looks to continue his dominance in the event - he is the two-time defending SEC champion.

The No. 23-ranked men's squad also sits well in the high jump (Kevin Dickson - 2nd), 3000 meter run (Bejan Abtahi - 2nd) and the hammer throw (Nate Rolfe and Branislav Danis - 2nd and 3rd, respectively).

The women's team excels in the distance medley relay (2nd) and the triple jump (Tiffany Trotman - 3rd).

The tournament kicks off with two events on Thursday - the women's heptathlon 100-meter hurdles at 2:30 p.m., followed by the men's decathlon 100 meter.

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