Georgia Mens Track and Field claims NCAA Championship

The Georgia Mens Track and Field team took ten members to the 2018 NCAA Track and Field Championships. The underdog contingent was big on heart, winning the National Championship by ten points.

After the Georgia Womens Track and Field team won the 2018 NCAA Indoor Championship this past winter, the Georgia Mens Track and Field Team said, “Let’s get one, too.”

Yesterday, they did.

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Gators stumble, Dawgs soar

Denzel Comenentia led the Dawgs out of the gate on day one with a first place finish in both the hammer throw and the shot put. Comenentia is just the third collegian to sweep both events.

More importantly,  Comenentia gave the Bulldogs what proved to be an insurmountable lead over the rest of the field.

In the meantime, the favored Florida Gators stumbled in the long jump, and the Dawgs took advantage to position themselves for a run at the National Championship.

Historically a multi-event powerhouse, the Dawgs flexed their decathlon muscles on day two. Georgia track and field senior Karl Saluri and freshman Johannes Erm extended the Dawgs lead, finishing second and third. The Dawgs finished day two with a 16 point lead and an upset simmering.

Georgia Mens Track finishes the drill

While the Dawgs woke up Friday with opportunity knocking on their hotel room doors, Georgia’s track destiny hung on a handful of remaining scoring opportunities. The Dawgs made the most of each.

The Gators, who woke Friday still projected to win their third consecutive NCAA Track and Field Championship, melted in the Eugene rain showers.

First, Georgia senior Cejhae Greene became the first Bulldog scorer in the 100 meters since Manley Waller in 1987. With the seventh place finish and accompanying two points in hand, the Georgia track team reeled off three more scores.

Junior Keenon Laine placed third in the high jump, and freshman Antonios Merlos cleared a personal best to take fifth. Junior Kendal Williams finished the 200 meters  with a time 20.32 to take third.

With 52 points in hand, Georgia Track and Field head coach Petros Kyprianou and the Dawgs adjourned to the stands to watch the rest of the competition futilely chase the Bulldogs in the final events.

The NCAA championship is the first for Georgia Mens Track and Field.

Next: Georgia basketball counting on wildcard Jordan Harris

The Georgia Women won the NCAA indoor event last winter. The ladies are positioned to also win the outdoor championship and will now take up the motto carried by the men to Eugene. “Let’s  get one, too.”