NASHVILLE, Tenn.– The Commodores are back in action this weekend to host almost 50 schools for the Music City Challenge at the David Williams II Recreation and Wellness Center.
This will be the team’s third and final home meet of the indoor season. The Dores had last weekend off, having competed at the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational in Louisville, Kentucky, Jan. 27-28.
In Louisville, Vanderbilt had a number of successful finishes.
Notably, graduate Taiya Shelby finished first in the 800-meter race with a personal best time of 2:05.79, also setting a new Vanderbilt top 10 time and a facility record and earning her a spot on the NCAA’s top 10 list for the season.
Setting a new meet record and earning a new top 10 time was the 4×400-meter relay team of freshman Mya Georgiadis and seniors Shelby, Madison Fuller and Kaira Brown. The group finished the race with a time of 3:41.08.
The Commodores’ distance medley team, made up of freshman Audrey Allman, juniors Lainey Phelps and Rondajai Washington and graduate Haley Walker, earned a first-place finish and set a new facility record with their time of 11:42.03.
Two field athletes also broke records the Commodores’ last time out. Senior Veronica Fraley threw 16.4 meters in shot put, breaking the facility record and earning a spot on this year’s NCAA top 25 descending order list. Additionally, freshman Kosi Umerah continues to impress, improving her personal best for the third week in a row. She set a new school record in the weight throw with a 19.11 toss.
The team also posted a handful of personal bests at the Lenny Lyles Invitational.
At the Music City Challenge this weekend, the Commodores will host Alabama, UAB, Auburn, Austin Peay, Ball State, Belmont, Butler, Central Michigan, Cincinnati Cumberland (TN), Duke, Eastern Kentucky, East Tennessee State, Florida International, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Illinois State, Indiana State, Kent State, Lipscomb, Louisville, McNeese State, Memphis, Meridian CC, Miami (FL), Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, Missouri, MIT, Murray State, North Carolina, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Rider, Southern Illinois, Southern Mississippi, Tennessee, Tennessee State, Texas Tech, Troy, Tulane, and Virginia Tech.
Things will kick off Friday, Feb. 10 with field events starting at 11:00 a.m. and running events beginning at 5:00 p.m. On Saturday, Feb.11, action will begin at 9:00 a.m. for running events and 9:30 a.m. for field events.
Fans can follow Vanderbilt women’s track and field on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @VandyXCTrack.
