The Tech track and field team trav- eled to Birmingham, Ala., last weekend to compete in the Crimson Tide Opener. Many high profile schools competed at the meet including Alabama, Auburn, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State, Texas, Florida and Florida State. Three Jackets had first place finishes in their event at the meet.
Senior Mykhail Chambers won first place in the high jump, posting a jump of 2.10 meters. Senior Eric Powers claimed first in the 3000-meter race with a time of 8:24 in the finals. Junior Julienne McKee won first in the triple jump with a jump of 12.94 meters.
Tech had a very solid showing on the day in the high jump. Not only did Chambers win first in the event, but also sophomore Brandon Mbaba took second place with a jump of 2.05 meters.
Tech also had an good day in the men’s 3000-meter. Powers placed first, but just behind him was junior Alec Clifford who placed third with a time of 8:28 and senior Patrick Barron placed fifth with a time of 8:34.
Senior Aaron Unterberger took fifth in the men’s pole vault competition with a jump of 5.05 meters and freshman Spencer Allen won third in the men’s 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.36 seconds.
Sohpomore Nat Estes and Sophomore Wyatt Gouldthorpe both competed in the men’s mile. Estes finished in seventh with a time of 4:22, and Gouldthorpe finished ninth running a 4:25 mile.
Four Tech women competed in the women’s 3000-meter. Senior Katie Vance came in twelfth with a time of 10:15, freshman Kaylee Isaacs came in twentieth posting a time of 10:39, senior Elena Hubbard came in twenty-first with a time of 10:51 and senior Lauren Young finished twenty-second with a time of 10:58.
Freshman Caroline Kissel, sophomore Morgan Jackson, sophomore Rachel Hammond and freshman Maria Boff all competed in the women’s mile. Kissell placed thirteenth overall with a time of 5:06 and Jackson finished fourteenth overall with a time of 5:09.
Tech sophomore pole vaulter Samantha Becker placed fourth in the Women’s pole vault clearing 3.70 meters.
The track and field team will head back to Birmingham this weekend to compete in their third meet of the indoor season, the Auburn Invitational. The in- door season wraps up on March 9, and then the outdoor season begins with the Georgia Relays in Athens on March 15. Tech’s first of two meets in Atlanta will be during the Yellow Jacket Invitational on March 29.