April 14, 2018
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Pole vaulter Kristen Denk and a distance medley relay foursome established new Vanderbilt records Saturday at the Tennessee Relays.
Denk, a redshirt sophomore from North Royalton, Ohio, set a new vault standard by clearing 14-1.25 (4.30 meters) on her second attempt. The distance medley unit of sophomore Kendall Derry, senior Jenn Edobi, junior Ginger Hutton and sophomore Reagan Bustamante set a new mark of 11:22.86 in a winning effort.
Head coach Steve Keith was elated with Denk’s individual performance and the distance medley success.
“I was very excited with our distance medley, not only with how each individual competed, but also with how we finished to get the win. It was an exciting race for our girls,” Keith said. “Then, the entire team had a chance to watch and support Kristen in the pole vault. She really put together a great series of jumps. It was a good way to cap two good days of competition for our squad.”
Denk was impressive in her first collegiate appearance at the Tom Black Track since she transferred from Tennessee to Vanderbilt last year. She showed excellent form through the competition, clearing 12-9.50 (3.90 meters), 13-3.50 (4.05 meters) and 13-9.25 (4.20 meters) on her first attempts.
Though the successful jump at 13-9.25 marked a new outdoor personal record, Denk wasn’t done. She capped her record-breaking day by clearing 14-1.25 on her second attempt.
Denk’s 14-1.25 clearance eclipsed the former Vanderbilt record of 14-0.50 established last year by Sarah Bell. It also equaled the seventh highest collegiate vault this spring.
Denk’s performance also capped an extremely successful meet for the Commodore corps. In addition to Denk’s record effort, sophomores Caleigh Lofstead and Margaret Ollinger set personal-bests Friday with clearances of 13-3.50 and 13.1.50, respectively.
Derry, Edobi, Hutton and Bustamante obliterated the team’s former distance medley standard, cutting more than eight seconds off the record that was established just three weeks ago at the Florida Relay.
Derry, from Fair Oaks, Calif., opened the relay by running the 1,200-meter leg in 3:30.78. Edobi, from Union, N.J., gave the Commodores a lead with a blazing 52.66 400-meter leg. Hutton, from Aspen, Colo., ran the 800-meter segment in 2:12.37, handing the baton to Bustamante in second place. Bustamante, from Springfield, Va., had a fierce 1,600-meter duel with Virginia Tech miler Rachel Pocratsky, edging the Hokie standout in the final strides. Bustamante’s split was a stellar 4:47.06.
In other action involving Commodore athletes, the sprint medley foursome of Edobi, Sophia Falco, Regan Clay and Maddie Criscione finished sixth with a time of 4:01.54.
Vanderbilt results – Tennessee Relays Day 2
Pole vault (collegiate division) – 2. Kristen Denk 14-1.25 (4.30 m)^.
Triple jump – 15. Sophia Falco 37-11.25.
Sprint medley – 6. Jenn Edobi, S. Falco, Regan Clay, Maddie Criscione 4:01.54.
Distance medley – 1. Kendall Derry, J. Edobi, Ginger Hutton, Reagan Bustamante 11:22.86^.
^ – new school record
