Georgia men’s and women’s track teams post best combined finishes at NCAA indoor championships

The Georgia men’s and women’s track and field teams both had historic finishes at the NCAA Track and Field Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas.

The women’s team, led by Keturah Orji and Kendell Williams, tied a program best with a second-place finish. The Bulldogs scored 51 points at the event, a program record. Oregon came in first with 84 points.

Orji won her fifth NCAA triple jump title, and her second at indoors. Williams became the first woman to win four indoor national championships in one event. She won the pentathlon, which took place on Friday.

The men’s team came in fourth place, which was its best finish ever at the indoor championships. Devon Williams, who is Kendell’s brother, won the heptathlon. He is the first member of the men’s team to win an indoor championship event since the late Torrin Lawerence won 400-meter dash back in 2010. Williams’ score was the fifth-best heptathlon score in NCAA history.

Thanks to Devon Williams, along with the efforts of Kari Saluri (heptathlon), Keenon Laine (high jump), Darius Carbin (high jump) and Kendal Williams (60m), the Georgia men finished with 35.5 points. The previous best finish for the men’s side was a sixth-place finish and 24 points in 1995.

Texas A&M, which hosted the event, took home the men’s title.

Bringing some hardware back to Athens!

Women finish national runner-ups and men finish fourth! 🏆 #RingTheBell #NCAATF pic.twitter.com/RiNGfC2iGC

— Georgia Track&Field (@UGATrack) March 12, 2017