Feb. 28, 2015
l SATURDAY’S RESULTS: HERE
l SEC RELEASE: HERE
The goal of every team is to peak in the postseason. The Vanderbilt track and field team met that objective this weekend.
With sophomores Simone Charley and Courtney Clayton helping lead the charge by setting new school records, the Commodores produced a total of seven scoring performances — in six separate events — at the SEC Indoor Championships at the University of Kentucky.
Vanderbilt compiled 18.2 points during the two-day meet, which wrapped on Saturday at Nutter Field House.
Charley earned All-SEC honors in the triple jump, finishing in third place — and moving up to fifth on the national list — by clearing 13.24m (43-5.25). Clayton finished fifth in the 800 at 2:05.26 to help cap the big weekend for the Commodores.
“The team gave a great effort over the last couple of days and we (the coaches) are very proud,” said Vanderbilt head coach Steve Keith. “This is far and away the toughest conference in the country and we represented ourselves well.”
The Florida men and Arkansas women — who are both ranked No. 1 in the nation — captured the SEC team titles. It was Florida’s seventh championship in team history, and the fifth for the Arkansas women. (Complete team scores below).
Vanderbilt took 12th place, finishing only 2 1/2 points behind 11th-place Auburn and just 3 1/2 behind 10th-place Tennessee.
“It was a good meet for us,” said Keith. “We’re tired, physically and mentally, but it’s a good tired. The team really did leave it all out on be track.”
Charley continued to show why she is one of the premiere athletes in the nation with her third-place finish in the triple jump. The sophomore, who also stars for the Vanderbilt soccer team, broke her own school record by clearing 13.23 (43-5.0) on her second attempt on Saturday, and then topped that mark on her fourth attempt (43-5.25). She will compete in the national meet in two weeks.
“Simone stepped up again,” said Keith. “She has shown that she is one of the best triple jumpers in the country. She had a great series and can now look forward to the NCAA Championships.”
Clayton kept things rolling for the Commodores with her school-record performance in the 800.
“Courtney is really learning what it takes to contend for a SEC title,” said Keith. “Her mark puts her in the top 20 nationally.”
Skyler Carpenter also scored in the 800, capturing eighth place at 2:10.64.
Sara Barron took seventh place, and scored two points, in the mile with a time of 4:46.53, and Ellie Tidman cleared 1.67 in the high jump to finish in a five-tie way for eighth and score 0.2 points for the Commodores.
The weekend highlights for Vanderbilt also included Jennifer Edobi earning All-Freshman honors. Competing in the 400, she posted the besttime (54.09) among all freshmen and finished 12th overall.
The Commodores capped their strong weekend by scoring points in both the distance medley and 4×400 relays.
Vanderbilt’s 4×4 team — comprised of Erin Edmond, Courtney Clayton, Faith Washingon and Edobi — took sixth place with a time of 3:39.39. The Commodore DMR foursome of Carmen Carlos, Katherine Delaney, Reagan Anderson and Carpenter took seventh place with a time of 11:33.92, the fifth-best on VU’s all-time list.
“Both relays fought hard and gained valuable team points,” said Keith. “The same is true for Sara in the mile, Skyler in the 800 and Ellie in the high jump.”
Claire Benjamin set a nine-second personal record in the 5000-meter run and earned 10th place with a time of 16:44.34, which ranks as the fourth-best mark on VU’s all-time performer’s list. Vanderbilt teammates Vanessa Valentine (17:03.20) and Liz Anderson (17:03.65) took 16th and 17th, respectively, in the 5000.
“All in all, this was a very strong meet for the program,” said Keith, “and it should set us up well for the outdoor season.”
VANDERBILT RESULTS (Saturday)
Triple Jump
3 – Simone Charley – 13.24m (43-5.25)
High Jump
T-8 – Ellie Tidman – 1.67m (5-5.75)
Mile Run
7 – Sara Barron – 4:46.53
5K
10 – Claire Benjamin – 16:44.34
16 – Vanessa Valentine – 17:03.20
17 – Liz Anderson – 17:03.20
800
5 – Courtney Clayton – 2:05.26
8 – Skyler Carpenter – 2:10.64
DMR
7 – Vanderbilt – 11:33.92
(Anderson, Carpenter, Delaney, Carlos)
4×400
6 – Vanderbilt – 3:39.39
(Washington, Edobi, Clayton, Edmond)
TEAM STANDINGS
WOMEN
1. Arkansas (130)
2. Florida (86)
3. Texas A&M (81.90)
4. Kentucky (76)
5. LSU (51)
6. Georgia (50)
7. Mississippi State (36.70)
8. Alabama (34)
9. Missouri (32)
10. Tennessee (22)
11. Auburn (21)
12. Vanderbilt (18.20)
13. Ole Miss (14.20)
14. South Carolina (9)
MEN
1. Florida (114)
2. Arkansas (89)
3. Texas A&M (87)
4. Ole Miss (62)
5. LSU (53)
6. Alabama (49)
7. Tennessee (48)
8. Georgia (46)
9. Auburn (34)
10. South Carolina (31)
11. Missouri (27)
12. Kentucky (22)
