April 16, 2011
WALNUT, Calif. – On the final day of competition at the Mt. SAC Relays, the Vanderbilt distance team raced well in the 1500 meters as well as the 5000 meters.
Three Commodores competed in the 1500 meter race, with all three running in different sections.
“There were very competitive efforts by all three runners,” said distance coach Steve Keith. “They showed good instincts and race tactics in some crowded fields and represented our team very well.”
Alexa Rogers finished second in Section 8 with a time of 4:31.74. She set a personal best time by three seconds.
“After a slow second 400 meters, she took control and pushed the second half of the race from the front and came up with a big personal best,” noted Keith.
In Section 6, Jordan White also finished second, with a time of 4:26.53. She improved her personal best time and is now in good standing among the conference and NCAA East region.
“Jordan started on the inside in a very large field,” said Keith. “She showed some patience and smart running in working her way through the field with splits of 72-71-70 seconds. A very strong last 300 meters almost got her the win.
In the eighth and final section of the 1500 meter race, Rita Jorgensen cocked a time of 4:24.59, finishing eighth.
“Rita was in the fastest section of the morning and came up with a season best time,” commented Keith. “That put her in good position on the NCAA East list for the first round of the NCAA tournament.”
In the final women’s event of the evening, Louise Hannallah competed in Section C of the 5000 meter race at 11:30 p.m. She clocked a time of 16:55.27, placing 20th overall. She was just seconds off her personal best time in the event.
“Louise is upset that she didn’t set a personal best, so we have a little work to do as we prepare for the SEC Championships in four weeks,” said Keith. “She was on schedule through 3K, but the race didn’t look as comfortable as it should have through the end.”
The distance squad will rejoin the rest of the track & field team next weekend as Vanderbilt hosts its annual Invitational at the Vanderbilt Track & Field Complex.
