BLACKSBURG, Va. – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association confirmed Georgia sophomore sprinter Torrin Lawrence set a new collegiate record in the 300-meter dash at the Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Va., on Friday.

Torrin Lawrence

Lawrence, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., crossed the finish line in 32.32 to top the former mark of 32.67 set by Mississippi State’s Lorenzo Daniel in Gainesville, Fla., on March 1, 1987.  Lawrence’s time is also the fifth-fastest time in the world ever and the fastest time in the world this year, threatening Wallace Spearmon’s world-record time of 31.88 set in 2005.

“It was an incredible performance considering the training situation we have had, the fact that there were no starting blocks for the race and that there were only a couple people in the crowd to cheer them on during the race,” said Bulldog sprints coach Jon Stuart.  “Most of the time guys are flown in from all over to try and run these times and Torrin managed to do it in a regular meet this early in the year.  This wasn’t shocking for me to see and I think it just shows his potential to be a truly great talent.”

In his two seasons with the Bulldogs, Lawrence has already made his mark in the Georgia record books.  Lawrence is the school record holder in the indoor 200 (20.77), was on the record-breaking indoor 4×400 relay team (307.45) and is No. 2 in the indoor 400 (46.18).  The defending Southeastern Conference indoor 200 champion opened his 2010 campaign by winning the 200 at the Kentucky Invitational with an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 21.19.

Georgia’s Barrineau breaks school’s Heptathlon record

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Junior Tommy Barrineau broke his own school record in the heptathlon to highlight the action at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., on Saturday.

Barrineau won both the pole vault (15 feet, 11 inches) and the 1000-meter run (2:40.73) to overtake teammate Cory Holman for the win in the heptathlon.  Barrineau racked up an NCAA provisional qualifying score of 5,608 points to top his own school record set last year by 277 points.

Holman, who had a sizable lead going into the last three events on Saturday, won the 60 hurdles with the third-fastest time in school history (7.93) and was the runner-up in the 1000 (2:43.98) to take second.  Holman’s mark was also a provisional qualifying mark and is No. 2 on UGA’s all-time top-10 list.

“Our results across the board at both meets this weekend were very impressive,” said head coach Wayne Norton.  “I told the team after today’s meet that we are doing as well this January as we have probably done ever.  I think this meet should serve as another very good stepping stone for us to do well the rest of the season.”

The rest of Georgia’s teams were competing the Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Va.  Junior Israel Machovec managed his second career-best effort in as many weeks in the shot put to be the top collegiate finisher (second overall).  Machovec launched an effort of 59-5.75 on his second attempt to inch closer to an NCAA provisional qualifying mark.  Freshman Petr Novotny also had a personal-best effort (58-1.25) to take third.

Georgia’s sprinters also continued their success on the Virginia Tech track as the men’s squad won the 4×400 relay.  Sophomore Phillip Adams, sophomore Torrin Lawrence, who broke the collegiate record in the 300 on Friday night, sophomore Aaron Evans and junior Baron Brown sped across the finish line in 3:11.01.

The Lady Bulldogs swept the first two spots with a pair of personal-best marks in the high jump as sophomore Carin Walker came away with the win.  Walker cleared the bar at 5-8.50 to win the competition as junior Shaquita Young finished second after reaching a clearance at the same height.

Sophomore Allen Brandon, a transfer from Ohio State, moved from No. 10 to No. 8 on Georgia’s all-time list after taking fifth in the pole vault.  Brandon was the top competitor from the SEC after clearing 16-3.50.

In the pole vault, freshman Jade Riebold finished third after recording a fair jump at 12-11.50.

Also of note, freshman Danny Neff finished fourth in the 1000 with the fifth-best time in school history (2:27.41).

Georgia’s NCAA Provisional Qualifying Marks on Saturday
Name                    Event/Finish                    Mark/Time
Tommy Barrineau Heptathlon/1st                  5,608 points
Cory Holman             Heptathlon/1st                  5,527 points