Feb. 17, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Freshman Rita Jorgensen finished third in the mile run and seventh in the 800-meter run to lead the Vanderbilt track and field team at the Tyson Invitational this past weekend in Fayetteville, Ark.
“I think we’re moving in the right direction,” Vanderbilt track and field head coach D’Andre Hill said. “Several of our runners are making good progress as we move toward the conference meet. I think being on this track will give us a little more confidence when we return for the SEC Indoor Championships in a couple of weeks.”
Competing in only her second indoor meet of the season, Jorgensen turned in the top performances of the weekend for Vanderbilt. In the one-mile run, Jorgensen won her heat and finished third overall with a time of 4:53.16, which is the sixth-fastest time in the distance in Vanderbilt history. Jorgensen was near the front of the pack for the first half of the race and then started to make her move toward the lead with three laps remaining.
“This was a very nice race for Rita and one that will prepare her for the qualifying rounds at the SEC meet in two weeks,” Vanderbilt distance coach Steve Keith said. “She felt strong and finished fast which is what we wanted to concentrate on this weekend.”
Jorgensen also posted a top-10 finish in the 800-meter run, with a seventh-place performance. Jorgensen finished second in her heat with a time of 2:12.61.
“Rita has had a late start to her indoor season because of an injury that slowed her at the end of the cross country season,” Keith said. “We had to bring her around a little slowly in January and not compete until February but it looks like she has found good form.”
Kristabel Doebel-Hickok finished 10th in the 3000-meter run with a time of 10:06.82. Finishing just behind her in 11th position was Val Kazmer, who set a new PR in the distance with a time of 10:08.05.
Sophomore Cherice Robertson turned in a good performance in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.83. Robertson, competing in only her second race after rehabbing from a knee injury, turned in the second-fastest 60-meter hurdle time of her career and third-fastest in school history.
Vanderbilt also sent a group of athletes to Bloomington, Ind., for the Hoosier Hills Invitational. Chavon Rhabb finished 10th in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:21.42, while Michelle Sauer finished 11th, turning in a time of 2:22.35. Stephanie Mehr finished 14th in the race, running the distance in 2:24.09, while Jillian Currie finished 19th with a time of 2:27.93.
Vanderbilt returns to action on February 29, as it will once again travel to Fayetteville, Ark., for the SEC Indoor Championships. Complete coverage of the Vanderbilt track and field team can be found on the official Web site of Vanderbilt athletics, vucommodores.com.
