April 2, 2015
The Vanderbilt track and field team will split up this weekend, with one group making a relatively short trip and the other group making a very long one. Several of the Commodores will travel to Auburn, Ala., to compete in the Tiger Track Classic, while some of their teammates journey across the country to compete in Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, California. The Vanderbilt squad is coming off a terrific showing at last weekend’s Black and Gold Invitational, the only home meet of the season for the Commodores. Here’s a closer look at this weekend’s meets:
STANFORD INVITATIONAL
Day, Date: Friday-Saturday, April 3-4
Host: Stanford
Site: Cobb Track and Angell Field
Heat Sheets: HEREÂ
Live Results: HEREÂ
Viewing: (FloTrack) HERE
l PLENTY OF COMPETITIONÂ
This year’s Invitational, which marks the 40th edition of the annual event, is scheduled to feature more than 3,000 athletes and will have representatives from more than 100 schools and universities.
l RICH HISTORY
The Stanford Invitational dates back to 1975, and has been each year — without interruption — since 1985. The event has had many other names, including the Stanford Track and Field Festival and the Diet Pepsi Track Challenge. It has been called the Stanford Invitational since 1995.
l LAST YEARÂ
Vanderbilt’s Liz Anderson highlighted the Commodores’ showing at last year’s Stanford Invitational by setting a school record in the 10k with a time of 33.44.76. Vanderbilt also had several solid showings in the 5K, with Vanessa Valentine breaking the 17:00 mark with a time of 16:58. Carmen Carlos, competing in the 5K for the first time in her career, finished at 17:00.92 and Claire Benjamin posted a season’s best time of 17:15. Amira Joseph set a PR by nine seconds in the 3000 Steeplechase with a time of 10:34.66 and Rebecca Chandler finished at 11:07.82. Sara Barron posted a time of 4:26.42 in the 1500, and was followed by teammates Lily Williams at 4:30.04 and Reagan Anderson at 4:47.26.
TIGER TRACK INVITATIONALÂ
Day, Date: Friday-Saturday, April 3-4
Host: Auburn
Site: Hutsell-Rosen Track
Heat Sheet: HEREÂ
Meet Schedule: HEREÂ Â
Live Results: HEREÂ
l FAMILIAR FOESÂ
The host of this weekend’s meet — the No. 21-ranked Auburn women — are one of several SEC teams that will be in action against the Commodores on Friday and Saturday. There are roughly 15 schools scheduled to compete overall.Â
l UPDATE ON THE COMMODORESÂ
Hosting their only home meet of the outdoor season last weekend, the Commodores put on a solid showing for their home fans during the Black and Gold Invitational. First-place finishes by Sara Barron, Rebecca Chandler and Skyler Carpenter were among the many highlights during the weekend, and the meet also featured a long list of times/distances that ranked among the Top-10 on VU’s all-time list. (Click HERE for list). Barron, a junior, captured first in the 3,000-meter run with a personal-best time of 9:34.68, which ranked as the No. 2 mark on Vanderbilt’s all-time performance list. Her first-place run came less than 24 hours after she had taken second place in the 1,500 with a time of 4:28.05. Carpenter, also a junior, delivered a dominating performance in Saturday’s 400-meter hurdles, posting a first-place time of 59.21. Her time was more than three seconds better than second-place finisher Natalie Olberding of Austin Peay (1:02.24). The Commodores also had a big performance in the 4×100 relay, where the foursome of Janetra Gleaves, Faith Washington, Emma Radan and Erin Edmond posted a third-place time of 46.95, which ranks as the fifth-best mark on VU’s all-time list. During the opening day of the meet on Friday, Erin Edmond took second place in the 200 with a personal-best time of 24.74, the No. 8 mark on VU’s all-time performer’s list. On the men’s side, Vanderbilt placed three runners among the top-five in the 5000-meter run. Jake Van Geffen set a PR and took third place with a time of 15:09.83, John Ewing was fourth at 15:12.02 and Nick French was fifth at 15:13.33.
