May 11, 2007
SEC Track & Field Central Including Live Scoring
Tuscaloosa, Ala. – Give Vanderbilt’s Garnetta Holloway credit. Though the multi-event standout did not successfully defend her Southeastern Conference heptathlon title, she refused to accept defeat without a fight.
Holloway, a resident of Cleveland, Tenn., closed with a strong push, overtaking two competitors in the final two events to finish third overall in the heptathlon. Holloway finished the competition with 5,245 points. Tennessee freshman Nia Ali captured the victory comfortably, amassing 5,490 points. Georgia senior Sarah Gretzmacher, runnerup to Holloway at the 2006 SEC Championships, finished second with 5,350 points.
Holloway’s performance was lacking for much of the competition. Through four events Thursday and the long jump Friday, Holloway showed little of her versatile talent, buried in fifth place and more than 150 points behind her closest competitor.
In desperate need of a spark, Holloway came up with a sensational effort in the javelin, tossing it 145’9″. The throw, nearly 20 feet better than the closest competitor, marked a 14-foot personal best for Holloway, and moved her to No. 2 on the Commodore all-time charts behind former All-American Josie Hahn’s 147’2″ effort in 2004.
The career best performance also gave Holloway hope of moving up in the overall standings. The throw allowed Holloway to cut nearly 300 points off the deficit she faced with her two closest competitors, Marrissa Harris of Mississippi State and Shaunette Davidson of LSU. Suddenly, with the competition down to the final 800-meter run, Holloway trailed Davidson by just nine points and Harris by 119 points.
Holloway ran fifth among eight runners in the 800 with a 2:24.83, but two of the three trailing the Vanderbilt standout were Harris and Davidson, who ran 2:34.54 and 2:42.90, respectively. The 10-second margin over Harris allowed Holloway to edge the Mississippi State sophomore by a mere three points.
Holloway’s 5,245-point total is her third highest heptathlon accumulation, but does not assure entry into the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Last year, Holloway finished 10th in the NCAA heptathlon after winning the SEC meet.
In the only other action Friday involving Commodore athletes, junior Lauren Fortson failed to advance in the 400-meter hurdles. Fortson 1:03.31 to finish 12th overall. Only the top nine finishers advance to the final Sunday.
On Saturday, the top Commodore prospects come in the 3,000-meter steeplechase where senior Ashleigh Wetzel and junior Val Kazmer are scheduled to compete. Wetzel ranks fourth among SEC steeplechasers due largely to a stunning performance three weeks ago at the Vanderbitl Invitational when she took nearly 30 seconds off her personal record. Kazmer ranks 12th in the event, and likely will need a career-best performance to earn team points.
Three other Vanderbilt participants – senior Brittany Sizer, sophomore Lauryn Smith and junior Amani Floyd – will also attempt to qualify for the finals in the 1500-meter run, long jump and 400-meter dash, respectively.
