May 23, 2013
GREENSBORO, N.C. —The Vanderbilt track and field team took 11 competitors to the NCAA East Preliminary Round and saw lots of drama on day one of the competition. Senior Kristen Findley will continue on in the 1,500 meters, while Liz Anderson fell just shy of a trip to the NCAA Championships in the 10,000 meters and Jennifer Cannon was just short of reaching the quarterfinals in the 400 meter hurdles.
Findley advances to the quarterfinal in the 1,500 by crossing the line in 4:19.70. She placed sixth in her heat, but was among the four next-best times in the four heats. Findley was in the fastest heat, as seven runners in the third section will move on to Saturday’s quarterfinal.
Not advancing in the 1,500 were sophomore Hannah Jumper (4:31.35), freshman Sara Barron (4:33.72) and freshman Lily Williams (4:44.41). The trio were all making their debut at the NCAA meet.
The 10,000 meters, which had Anderson along with Allie Scalf and Grace Orders, provided the most drama for Vanderbilt. Anderson completed the 10K in 33:54.89, finishing 14th, two spots shy of advancing to the NCAA Championships. The 12th place runner, N.C. State’s Joanna Thompson, finished in 33:49.22, less then seven seconds ahead of Anderson.
Scalf placed 32nd, crossing the line in 35:47.70. Orders was 39th, finishing in 36:14.82. It was just the second collegiate 10K for both Scalf and Orders, who made their debut at the SEC Championships two weeks ago to qualify for the NCAA meet.
In the 400 meter hurdles, Cannon finished in 59.10, which was good for sixth in her heat. The top three from each of the six heats, as well as the the next six best times would advance to tomorrow’s quarterfinal, but the freshman fell just shy. She missed a spot in the quarters by .06 seconds, as the last spot went to Pittsburgh’s Evann Thompson at 59.06.
Fellow freshman Faith Washington finished in 1:01.46 to finish seventh in her heat and 45th overall.
Friday’s action in Greensboro will start with Cannon in the 100 meter hurdles at 4:00 p.m. CT, followed by Brionne Williams and Ellie Tidman in the high jump starting at 5:00 p.m. CT. After that, only Findley’s competition in the 1,500 quarterfinals will take place on Saturday, with that race set for 5:30 p.m. CT.
