University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Take Three Wins at Tennessee Invitational
February 15, 2002 | Men's Track
Feb. 15, 2002
Complete Results | Tennessee Results
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Volunteers' top-ranked track and field squad put the wraps on a limited tune-up before the SEC Indoors with three victories and a facility record Friday night at the Tennessee Invitational in Stokely Athletics Center.
"The people we had participating either needed one more tune-up before SECs or they needed a competition to try to make our 27-man SEC travel roster," head coach Bill Webb said. "We have some tough decisions to make regarding who we will take to Arkansas. We did accomplish some things. I was proud Camron (Howard) broke his own Stokely record in the long jump. He won't be joining us for SECs because he only has outdoor eligibility remaining.
"One of the biggest things was getting Steve Pitlik back with his huge PR in the weight throw. That mark should score at the conference meet. Our decathletes tuned up for the pentathlon at the SECs. Hassaan (Stamps) had another good time in the hurdles. The pole vaulters did extremely well with very little rest in between jumps. I think they'll be ready for SECs. I also think Jabari Greer and Rashad Baker can help us outdoors judging from their unattached performances today."
While he was competing unattached because he has only outdoor eligibility remaining, Camron Howard broke his own Stokely Athletics Center record in the long jump with a 25-6 winner. The result bodes well for outdoor season, as it appears Howard remains on his successful form from late in the 2001 outdoor season.
The home track was kind to Steve Pitlik, as the Vol senior upped his career-best weight throw mark by nearly two feet. Pitlik won the event with a 60-7 3/4 mark.
Maryville's Tim Bell, a Vol co-captain, also finished his final home indoor meet with a 6-10 1/4 win in the high jump.
The Vol pole vaulters fared well with two 17-feet clearances. Rocky Danners and Clint Binders tied for third with 17-0 1/4 clearances. Because the other competitors entered the competition at a higher height, Danners and Binder were the only jumping. Thus, they were jumping continuously without rest in between, making the 17-0 1/4 clearances look even better to Vol mentor Webb. The vaulters will have considerably more time in between jumps at the SEC Indoors.
Co-captain Hassaan Stamps took silver in the 55M hurdles in 7.41, behind Olympic decathlete Tom Pappas' winning 7.35.
Sean Lambert took bronze in the 55M dash to lead the Vol sprint effort. Lambert clocked a 6.33 to miss his season-best time by 1/100th of a second.
The Vols travel to Fayetteville, Ark., to do battle with the Razorbacks and the rest of the Southeastern Conference powers in the SEC Indoors meet next weekend. Tennessee took its last SEC Indoor title in 1996 in Lexington, Ky. Last season, the Vols finished third in the meet, one point out of second place.
