University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
KNOXVILLE INVITATIONAL
Vols Take Five Wins at Knoxville Invitational
April 28, 2002 | Men's Track
April 28, 2002
Vol Results | Complete Results
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee capped its home schedule with five wins Sunday evening at the Knoxville Invitational. The limited Volunteer contingent built upon successes earlier this weekend by teammates at the Penn Relays. In the field, Steve Pitlik took the discus title, while Kevin Thompson and Stephen Harris both cleared 6-8 to win the high jump. Meanwhile, Leon McRae, Tim Kelly and Matt Rush won gold in the 100M dash, 3,000M run and 110M hurdles, respectively.
While the Vols were hosting welcome visitors from schools around the Southeast and some All-America alums for the last time of the season, an unwelcome visitor descended upon Tom Black Track to create the biggest stir. Pounding hail, driving rain and powerful wind combined with a tornado warning to shut down the meet for about 40 minutes during the afternoon. The Knoxville Invitational was slowed even more as meet management personnel worked diligently to get the home of the Vols back into shape for competition. However, after the ominous weather cleared, Tennessee head coach Bill Webb had reason to feel optimistic about his team's performance.
"I feel good about where we are going into the conference meet," Webb said. "You like to go into conference with positive momentum. We had that in a few places today. Steve Pitlik had a provisional lifetime best in the discus. In the pole vault, we had several people attempting their lifetime bests. We just used the running events to tune up for conference. It was very windy."
Pitlik contributed the most noteworthy Vol victory of the day because a NCAA provisional qualifier was attached. Pitlik threw the discus 183-8, a personal best by two inches.
Meanwhile, Danners chalked up Tennessee's other provisional mark of the day with a second-place, 17-5 clearance in the pole vault. Danners has a stronger provisional mark of 18-1 from the Sea Ray Relays. Former Vol Tim Mack was the reason Danners took second. Mack, the 2001 Goodwill Games champion, won the event with an 18-10 1/4 clearance high over Tom Black Track. Mack's effort stands as the best outdoor vault by an American this year and tied for the second-best vault in the world this year. With Sunday's leap, Mack trails current world leader Viktor Chistiakov by only two centimeters.
While Pitlik and Danners contributed the only provisional qualifiers of the day, four more Vols won their events. Using the meet as training, Tennessee decathletes Thompson and Harris both cleared 6-8 to lead the high jumpers.
"Today the decathletes were just trying to tune up a few events," Thompson said. "This is our last competitive chance to work on some things. I'm really excited for myself and my teammates going into the conference meet. I'm one of 33 guys (the Tennessee SEC travel squad) fit and ready to compete at SECs."
Freshman McRae continued his acclimatization to collegiate track with a 10.58w winner in gusty conditions. The Bath, England native also took third in the 200M dash with a barely wind-aided 21.46w.
"Any advance I can get in the sprints bodes well for my hurdles," McRae said. "I wanted to come out here today, win, have some fun and enjoy it. At first (earlier this season), I found it difficult to get into the swing of competition. I'm not used to competing so early outdoors (in England). I'm waiting for everything to come together and click. It's been exciting. I've never experienced such quality competition in meets."
Tim Kelly held up the distance end of the deal with a 3,000M run title. Kelly won in 8:35.85. Kelly posted his lifetime best in the steeplechase with an 8:49.89 provisional qualifier at the Penn Relays Thursday night.
Meanwhile, senior Matt Rush capped a solid weekend with the 110M hurdles title. Rush clocked in at 13.94w with a little help from a tailwind. Rush helped Tennessee to its 13th shuttle hurdle relay title Friday at the Penn Relays.
The Volunteers will take next weekend off to prepare for the SEC Championships May 9-12. The 2002 conference outdoor champion will be crowned then in Starkville, Miss.
