Banner day for pentathlon opens SECs

Feb. 22, 2013

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Meet Preview with Schedule & Results

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. —The Vanderbilt track and field team opened the 2013 Southeastern Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships with a pair of pentathlon performances that rank among the top-five in program history.

Jennifer Cannon and Janetra Gleaves scored 3,685 and 3,328 points, respectively, in the indoor pentathlon to open the annual indoor conference meet. Cannon’s total is the third-best in program history, while Gleaves’ mark is fifth-best.

“We’re extremely happy with the competitive efforts we saw from Jennifer and Janetra today,” Vanderbilt Head Coach Steve Keith said. “Can’t complain with the number three and number five all-time Vanderbilt indoor performances.”

Keith knows that while that the duo did not score points for Vanderbilt, the Commodores were both very competitive.

“Jen’s mark would have scored last year,” Keith explained. “But with the addition of Texas A&M and Missouri, the field has gotten that much more competitive.”

Cannon had five personal bests in the five events. She also had Vanderbilt’s third-best and sixth-best marks in the 60-meter hurdles and high jump, respectively.

Cannon opened with a sixth place finish in the 60-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 8.69. Gleaves was right behind her in seventh, witha time of 8.71.

The high jump saw Cannon place seventh with a mark of 1.66 meters (5′ 5.25″), sixth in program history. Gleaves was 15th at 1.51 meters (4′ 11.5″).

The shot put saw Gleaves in 14th with a throw of 10.19 meters (33′ 5.25″), followed by Cannon in 15th at 9.85 meters (32′ 3.75″).

Cannon picked-up the best long jump and posted a mark of 5.34 meters (17′ 6.25″), followed by Gleaves at 5.13 meters (16′ 10″). Cannon was in 12th, while Gleaves placed 15th.

The pentathlon concluded with the 800 meters. Cannon placed eighth in 2:27.18, while Gleaves was 14th in 2:38.71.

Makeba Aldice of Akransas won the pentathlon with 4,569 points, which was a collegiate record. Lucie Ondraschkova placed second with 4,208 points which is among the top-10 in NCAA history.

For Keith, the most exciting part might be that Gleaves is just a sophomore, while Cannon is a freshman.

“As a coach, I admire the attitude Jennifer and Janetra bring,” Keith says. “But with them being so young, I know our best events are yet to come.”

The head coach also can’t wait for the meet to get into full swing tomorrow.

“It’s a full day tomorrow and our team is ready for the challenge,” Keith said.

Action begins at Noon with Alyson Hasty and Morgan Toone in the pole vault. Other Saturday events for Vanderbilt will include the 60-meter hurdles, long jump, mile, 800 meters and 3,000 meters.