Dec. 3, 2015
Looking to continue its steady rise after last year’s benchmark season, the Vanderbilt track and field team begins the 2015-16 season this weekend, hosting the Vanderbilt Opener on Saturday. The event will feature some of Vanderbilt’s nearby rivals — including Belmont and Lipscomb — along with numerous other schools from Tennessee and Kentucky. Here’s a closer look at the meet:
Event: Vanderbilt Indoor Opener
Day, Date: Saturday, Dec. 5
Host: Vanderbilt
Site: Vanderbilt Indoor Multi-purpose Facility
Start Times: 10:30 Field Events l 1 p.m. Running Events
Start list: HERE
Meet Info: HERE
Live Results: HERE
Admission: $5 per person; Students free with Vanderbilt ID
l The skinny on the Commodores: Vanderbilt comes into the 2015-16 indoor campaign looking to continue to build on the impressive work from last season, which was capped by Simone Charley’s fourth-place finish in the triple jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Charley earned First Team All-American honors for her performance, which helped Vanderbilt finish No. 15 in the USTFCCCA’s Program of the Year standings. It marked the first time in school history that the Commodores have earned a spot on the list, and they were one of only two schools from the SEC — along with Arkansas — to qualify. (In order to be eligible for the award, teams must qualify for the NCAA Championships in each of the following three seasons — cross country, indoor track and outdoor track). Courtney Clayton also had an outstanding season for Vanderbilt, earning a fifth-place finish at the SEC Championships while setting a new school record with a time of 2:05.26 in the 800.
l Competing for the Commodores: See schedule of events below to see who will be representing Vanderbilt.
l Looking at the field: Among the teams participating this weekend will be Austin Peay, Belmont, Lipscomb, Louisville, Memphis, MTSU, Murray State, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, Trevecca Nazarene, Western Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
l QUOTING THE COACHES:
Head coach Steve Keith
On the excitement of the season opener:
“This is always a fun meet because it’s a chance for the part of the team who have not been competing to get out, feel that individual excitement and find out where they are in terms of fitness and training. Getting back in the competitive environment after 12 weeks of training is a necessary change and a great way to wrap up the fall training phase.”
On the numerous veterans on the roster:
“Senior leadership is very important and it’s been great to see these women develop over the last 3-4 years. Every year we have improved and put ourselves more and more in the mix with SEC and NCAA level competition so this Saturday is a great way to ‘flip the switch’ in terms of competitive mindset and get ready for the upcoming indoor/outdoor seasons.”
Associate head coach Clark Humphreys
On the team’s preparation this fall:
“Other than losing Tierney Price to a blown out knee, our fall was one of the greatest we¹ve had in a long time. The ladies really have bought into the training and we hope to see the results this season.”
On the strengths of the team:
“The 4x400m relay team should be really strong again this year, and, individually, Jenn Edobi, Faith Washington, Courtney Clayton, Skyler Carpernter, Sarah Bell and Simone Charley all had great seasons — and we again expect to see big things from them again.”
Assistant coach Rhonda Riley
On the potential of this year’s team:
“The overall track team has a lot of talent and every year this program improves in all event areas. This season can be very impactful on gaining experience and qualifying more athletes to the national championships.”
FULL SCHEDULE
(Vanderbilt athletes in parenthesis)
Field Events (FINAL)
10:30 am: High Jump (W) Northeast Pit (Vanderbilt: Ashlyn Hare, Sarah Goodale)
10:30 am: High Jump (M) Southwest Pit
10:30 am: Weight Throw (W) 2 Sections
11:00 am: Long Jump (W) 2 Sections, Alcove Runway
11:00 am: Long Jump (M) 1 Section, Infield Runway
11:00 am: Pole Vault (M)
Noon: Weight Throw (M) 1 Section
1:30 pm: Shot Put (W) 2 Sections
2:00 pm: Pole Vault (W) (Vanderbilt: Katie Watts, Megan McCabe, Sarah Bell)
2:00 pm: Triple Jump (W) 1 Section, Infield Runway
2:00 pm: Triple Jump (M) 1 Section, Alcove Runway
3:00 pm: Shot Put (M) 2 Sections
Running Events (FINAL)
1:00 pm: 60 Hurdles (W) 4 Heats (Vanderbilt: Sarah Goodale)
1:15 pm: 60 Hurdles (M) 3 Heats
1:30 pm: 60 Meters (W) 6 Heats
1:45 pm: 60 Meters (M) 4 Heats
2:00 pm: Mile Run (W) 2 Heats (Vanderbilt: Katherine Delaney, Courtney)
2:15 pm: Mile Run (M) 1 Heat (Vanderbilt: Nikos Gkotsis)
2:30 pm: 400 Meters (W) 8 Heats (Vanderbilt: Jennifer Edobi, Erin Hardnett)
2:45 pm: 400 Meters (M) 6 Heats
3:00 pm: 800 Meters (W) 2 Heats (Vanderbilt: Skyler Carpenter, Lydia Witty, Sarah Goodale)
3:15 pm: 800 Meters (M) 2 Heats
3:30 pm: 200 Meters (W) 8 Heats
3:45 pm: 200 Meters (M) 5 Heats
4:00 pm: 3000 Meters (W) 1 Heat (Vanderbilt: Katherine Delaney, Courtney Kriegshauser)
4:25 pm: 5000 Meters (M) 1 Heat
4:45 pm: 4X400 Relay (W) 3 Heats (Vanderbilt: Edobi, Clayton, Hardnett, Witty)
5:00 pm: 4X400 Relay (M) 2 Heats
