April 17, 2014
The Vanderbilt track team is off to a golden start in the Golden State.
Competing at the 56th annual Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., on Thursday, Vanderbilt juniors Amira Joseph and Rebecca Chandler both set personal bests — and broke the school record that had stood for 12 years — in the 3000 Meter Steeplechase.
Joseph earned a third place finish in the Open A division with a time of 10:27.72, and Chandler, running in the same division, finished sixth at 10:33.79 as they each broke the previous school record of 10:34.15 set by Kylene Kownurko in 2002.
Vanderbilt also had a strong showing in the 10k, with Claire Benjamin and Vanessa Valentine each delivering fine results in their debuts in the event. Benjamin posted a time of 35:30.76 — the fourth-best time on Vanderbilt’s all-time peformance list — and Valentine had a time of 36:42.92.
For live scoring, click here, and for more coverage of the Mt. SAC Relays, visit vucommodores.com throughout the weekend.
VU TOP ALL-TIME PERFORMERS — STEEPLECHASE
Listed below are Vanderbilt’s top performers in the Steeplechase prior to Thursday’s record-breaking performances by Amira Joseph and Rebecca Chandler.
10:34.15 Kylene Kownurko 2002
10:34.66 Amira Joseph 2014
10:38.44 Becca Chandler 2013
10:39.59 Ashleigh Wetzel 2007
10:43.92 Val Kazmer 2008
10:46.27 Allie Scalf 2011
11:47.46 Christine Brown 2006
11:58.95 Jackie Wachsman 2003
12:05.07 Whitney Thurman 2005
12:07.27 Marlena Justak 2002
10:34.15 Kylene Kownurko 2002
10:34.66 Amira Joseph 2014
10:38.44 Becca Chandler 2013
10:39.59 Ashleigh Wetzel 2007
10:43.92 Val Kazmer 2008
10:46.27 Allie Scalf 2011
11:47.46 Christine Brown 2006
11:58.95 Jackie Wachsman 2003
12:05.07 Whitney Thurman 2005
12:07.27 Marlena Justak 2002
