UGA’s Boling runs world’s top time in track event at Clemson

The Bulldogs’ Matthew Boling ran one of the fastest 300-meter dash times in collegiate history to tally a win in the conclusion of the Clemson Invite on Saturday.

Boling, a native of Houston, Texas, ran the first 300m of his career and finished with the second-fastest time in Georgia history and the top time in the world this year.  Boling’s finish makes him the No. 3 all-time collegiate finisher with the No. 4 all-time collegiate finish in the event.

Veteran Lady Bulldog triple jumper Titiana Marsh and transfer Mikeisha Welcome fought for second and third-place finishes, respectively, with the No. 2 and No. 3 jumps in the country this year.  Welcome rocketed to No. 3 on the school’s all-time list with round-ending mark of 13.66 meters/44 feet, 9 ¾ inches while Marsh also saved her best effort (13.33m/43-8.75) on her sixth attempt.

Haley Tate, Kenondra Davis, Dominique Mustin and Zoe Pollock managed the country’s fifth-best time in the 4x400m relay to take second.  The quartet clocked a 3:36.25, which is fourth on Georgia’s all-time top-10 list.

On the men’s side, Caleb Cavanaugh, Elija Godwin, Will Sumner and Boling made their season debut in the 4x400m relay and recorded the third-fastest time in UGA history.  The Bulldogs crossed the finish line in 3:06.11 and took control of the No. 4 spot on the current national list.

Missing her personal best by just .02 seconds, Davis earned runner-up honors in the 200m after completing her lap in 23.35, which ranks third nationally.  Senior Brandee Presley bettered her No. 10 spot in the school record books with a 23.84 for fifth place.

Sophomore Elena Kulichenko posted a first-attempt clearance at 1.81m/5-11.25 to top her Florida counterpart for the high jump win.

The Bulldogs went 2-3 (top two collegiate finishes) in the men’s pole vault thanks to the efforts of a sophomore and freshman.  Second-year vaulter Nikolai van Huyssteen went over the bar at 5.05m/16-6.75 on his first try.  One spot behind van Huyssteen was Alon Rogow, who finished with a mark of 4.95m/16-2.75 for second.

Ana da Silva saved her best effort in the shot put for her final try with a mark of 16.69m/54-9.25 for second place.  Teammate Mia Anderson finished fourth in the competition after her second attempt went 13.93m/458.50.

A day after breaking into the school’s all-time top-10 list in the 1000m, junior KC Heron recorded top honors in the 800m with a 1:52.70.  Transfer Zack Truitt finished two spots behind for third place in the event with a 1:53.51.

A runner-up finish came for the Bulldogs in the shot put as Gavin Beverage worked up to a sixth and final throw of 17.26m/56-7.50.

Redshirt sophomore Charlotte Augenstein registered a personal-best time of 2:12.49 in the 800m for third place while freshman Simone Rojas finished fifth (2:15.50).

Full Results: For results from the Clemson Invite, please visit: http://gado.gs/9x5

What’s Next For The Bulldogs?: Members of Georgia’s teams travel to Albuquerque, N.M., which is the site of this year’s NCAA Indoor Championships, next weekend for the Dr. MLK Jr. Collegiate Invitational.