Georgia’s men’s track and field team is preparing for its third meet of the season, as split squads will travel to Arkansas for the Razorback Invitational on Friday while the rest will head to Nebraska for the Mark Colligan Memorial on Saturday.

The Bulldogs are coming off last week’s Auburn Invitational, where they had what head coach Wayne Norton graded as a “B-minus” performance.

“A lot of good things happened. It wasn’t spectacular, but we got through it,” Norton said. “We had a lot of what you would call second level best. It wasn’t their best ever, but the best they’ve done at this time of the year.”

Georgia is splitting squads in Nebraska and Arkansas. The Arkansas group are the pole vaulters and triple-jumpers, while the Nebraska group consists of weight throwers and jumpers. SEAN TAYLOR/Staff

As for their season thus far, Norton said he feels the team is where they should be.

“So far we’ve really had a good start to the season,” he said. “It would be nice to have a lot of spectacular things happen. It’s a slow building process that goes through January.”

The majority of the team will be traveling to Nebraska for Saturday’s noon meet.

The group heading there will be made of the weight throwers, jumpers and sprinters.

A smaller contingent of Bulldogs — made up of pole-vaulters, triple jumpers and heptathletes — will take part in the Arkansas meet on Friday.

“The reason we’re sending a group to Arkansas is the facility,” Norton said. “It’s a raised runway, which means it’s a rubber-covered wood runway. It’s bouncier so that will help the pole-vaulters and triple jumpers.”

Individuals impress in second meet of spring

Saniel Atkinson had a good start to her season for the women’s team last week at the Auburn Invitational.

The Maryland native was the runner-up in the women’s high jump with a jump of 1.77 meters in the final round.

Freshman pole-vaulter Morgann Leleux impressed last week as well, posting the second-best vault in the SEC this season at 13 feet, 7.25 inches.

On the men’s side, Torrin Lawrence has had a great start to his season, taking three victories at the Kentucky Invitational in the 60-meter dash, 200-meter dash as well as anchoring the 4×400 relay team on Jan. 14.

Last week in Birmingham, Ala., the Florida native again helped the 4×400 squad to a second place finish.

Sophomore Justin Welch also got his season started on the right foot last week, winning the men’s weight throw with a throw of 65 feet, 7.5 inches.

Bulldogs’ squads ranked in top 25

Both the women’s and men’s track teams are ranked in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association top 25. The ladies are ranked No. 13 while the men come in at No. 23.