NASHVILLE, Tenn. – From June 21-30, Vanderbilt track and field had seven current and former student-athletes competed in national competitions in the United States, Canada, Lithuania and the United Kingdom. The week was highlighted by a qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics by Veronica Fraley, three national titles and three additional medals.
Giavonna Meeks kicked off competition Vanderbilt’s Olympic hopefuls at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Because she redshirted during the outdoor season, this was the first time this year Meeks would be competing in the hammer throw for Vanderbilt. During the qualifying round, she registered a 63.76-meter throw to place 17th among the field and break the school record she set during the 2023 season.
On Monday, Fraley competed in the qualifying round of the discus where she placed third overall to advance to Thursday’s final. Her top throw landed at the 62.85-meter mark.
Fraley retuned to the discus ring Thursday for the event final and finished third to qualify for the United States’ Olympic team.
The Raleigh, North Carolina, native moved into second place in the finals in the third round when she recorded her best mark of the night with a 62.54 meter throw, as she would go on the finish third among the 12 competitors who advanced out of the first round Monday. Four of her six throws in the finals surpassed the 60-meter mark.
Currently ranked 22nd in the world in the discus, Fraley will add to her international résumé having already represented the United States at the World Championships on two occasions as well as at the 2023 Pan American Games.
Teammate Allyria McBride also competed at the trials on Thursday, advancing out of the first round of the 400-meter hurdles after finishing with a time of 56.96 seconds. The rising junior from Marietta, Georgia, placed fourth in her heat and was 18th overall in a field of 34 individuals. During the semifinals, she clocked 57.37 seconds to place 22nd overall.
Vanderbilt alumna and 2023 NCAA runner-up in the heptathlon Beatrice Juskeviciute won the 100-meter hurdles at the Lithuanian Championships with a time of 12.95 seconds. Over the next two days, she compiled 6,136 points in the heptathlon competition to win the event for the second consecutive year.
Fraley was back on the field for the qualifying round of the shot put where she came in 14th with a top throw of 17.47 meters.
2023 World Championship qualifier Brooke Overholt advanced for the 400-meter hurdles final at the 2024 Bell Track & Field Trials with the second-fastest time of the afternoon, 59.03 second. She would go on to earn a silver medal in the event with a finals time of 57.64 seconds.
On Sunday at the UK Championships, 2022 first-team All-American Divine Oladipo won her first national title in the discus, recording a top throw of 54.78 meters. She also earned a bronze medal in the shot put with a throw of 17.24 meters, which is a season best. Also in the shot put, fellow Commodore and 2024 first-team All-American Sarah Omoregie placed sixth with a 16.03-meter mark.
The opening ceremony for the 2024 Paris Olympics is July 26. Women’s discus qualifications are August 2, and the final is August 5. Fans can follow Vanderbilt track and field on X/Twitter and Instagram at @VandyXCTrack.
