May 27, 2016
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Bell’s School Record in Pole Vault
Event: NCAA East Regionals
Day, Date: Thursday-Saturday, May 26-28
Host: University of North Florida
Site: Hodges Stadium (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Meet schedule: HERE
Heat Sheet: HERE
Meet Info: HERE
Live Results: HERE
Streaming: HERE
Full viewing schedule: HERE
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Vanderbilt came up shy of advancing two individuals to the NCAA Championships Friday as competition continued at NCAA Prelims.
With just Courtney Clayton competing in the 800 meters and Sarah Bell in the pole vault, Friday was the lightest day for the nine-person continent of student-athletes in Jacksonville.
Bell began and ended the day for the Commodores. After missing on her first two attempts at the opening height of 3.80 meters, a rain shower moved over Hodges Stadium, halting competition for nearly 30 minutes.
The passing shower was all Bell needed to get going. She cleared the opening bar on her next attempt to stay in the competition and was then clean on her first attempts at 3.95 meters and 4.10 meters. From 4.10 meters, the progression was to 4.20 meters, which would be a personal record for Bell, the school record holder.
After missing on her first attempt at 4.20 meters, Bell cleared on her second try (WATCH). With just 12 competitors moving on to the NCAA Championships, Bell was on the cusp of advancing. Last year’s qualifying height was 4.18 meters, but this year that would not be enough.
Ten others would clear 4.25 meters and the final two spots were given to Jessica Harter at Purdue and Caroline Hasse at Akron, who each cleared 4.20 meters, but had fewer misses earlier in the competition.
While Bell was in the midst of setting a new school record, Clayton was on the track in the 800 meter quarterfinals. With a total of three heats and the top three finishers and then the next three fastest times advancing to NCAAs, Clayton got her shot in the third and final heat.
However, it was like déjàvu from a year ago. With 120 meters to go and Clayton jockeying for position in the middle of the pack, she was tripped up for the second year in a row and saw her chances at advancing to the NCAA Championships come to an end. Last year, Clayton was tripped up about 200 meters from the finish line.
Vanderbilt will conclude competition at the NCAA Prelims Saturday with five individuals competing in three events. Sara Barron and Katherine Delaney will run in the quarterfinals of the 1500 meters, Vanessa Valentine and Carmen Carlos will run in the 5000 meters and All-American Simone Charley will compete in the triple jump.
FRIDAY’S RESULTS (Vanderbilt)
Pole vault
14. Sarah Bell 4.20m (13-9¼ )
800 quarterfinals
Courtney Clayton DNF
THURSDAY’S RESULTS (Vanderbilt)
400 Hurdles
37. Skyler Carpenter 1:00.01
1500
20. Sara Barron 4:23.04
22. Katherine Delaney 4:23.33
400
32. Jennifer Edobi 53.66
800
14. Courtney Clayton 2:06.14
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE (Vanderbilt)
5:30 pm 1500 quarterfinals(Vanderbilt: Barron, Delaney)
5:30 pm 5k (Vanderbilt: Vanessa Valentine, Carmen Carlos)
7:05 pm Triple Jump (Vanderbilt: Simone Charley)
