University of Tennessee Athletics
Former Vol Porter Throws Big
February 05, 2011 | Men's Track
Feb. 5, 2011
By Eric Trainer
FINDLAY, Ohio -- Former University of Tennessee track & field throws standout Garland Porter had a big meet Friday at the University of Findlay Open, posting a U.S.-leading mark in the weight throw and moved to No. 6 on the all-time world top performers list.
Porter, who lettered for the Vols in 2004 and 2005 and is the school's record-holder in the weight at 72 feet, 5 ¾ inches, unleashed a personal-best toss of 80-0 ¾ to take second Friday night behind European hammer throw champion Libor Charfreitag of Slovakia (81-7 ½). Charfreitag ranks second all-time in the event and is just one of three throwers ever to break 25 meters (82-0 ¼). The mark was his best since 2008 and the sixth-longest of his career.
As for Porter, the former Vol became the U.S. leader this season with his throw and will likely be a favorite to win at the USA Indoor Championships later this month. Coached by current UT assistant coach John Frazier, Porter's mark moves him to No. 6 on the all-time world top performers list behind American Lance Deal (84-10 ¼), Charfreitag (84-3), Kibwe Johnson (USA, 82-5), A.G. Kruger (U.S., 82-0) and Jake Freeman (U.S., 80-3 ¾).
