April 18, 2004

Multi-Event Wins by Hahn, Campbell Guide Commodores To Team Victory in Vanderbilt Invitational

4/18/2004

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Latisha Bryant, Vensherrie Campbell, Josie Hahn and Paige Roberts produced event wins to guide the Commodores to a comfortable team victory Saturdayin the Vanderbilt Track and Field Invitational.

For the second consecutive year, Campbell and Hahn notched a pair of second-day victories at the meet. Hahn set an outdoor team record in the high jump, the concluded the day by winning the javelin throw. Campbell, coming in her last home meet, won both the hammer throw and discus toss.

Bryant ran her best race in recent weeks in the 800-meter run, winning in an outdoor personal best of 2:14.09. Roberts repeated at the pole vault winner with an clearance of 11’6″.

Several other Commodores, including sophomore Amanda Mullins-Hall, put together solid performances Saturday after a contingent of Vanderbilt distance runners dominated races on Friday. Mullins-Hall posted an NCAA qualifying mark in the 100-meter hurdles, running 13.68 to finish second behind U.S. Olympic hopeful Danielle Carruthers.

The Commodore women comfortably won the team title over Middle Tennessee, who was led by All-American sprinter Rosemary Okafor, who captured the 200 and 400 meters for the Blue Raiders.

In the men’s competition, reigning NCAA 100-meter champion Mardy Scales guided Middle Tennessee to a victory over Louisville. Scales topped an impressive 100-meter field with a 10.18 effort, then completed the 100-200 double with a scorching 20.37 performance.

Hahn, an All-American for the Commodores last season in the heptathlon, appears in excellent form as she prepares for the Southeastern Conference and NCAA Championships. Moments after finishing a hurdles race, Hahn set a new team and personal outdoor mark in the high jump, clearing 5’11.5″. Hahn did not attempt to go higher, though she became one of three Tennessee collegiate jumpers all-time to clear 6’0″ during the indoor season. Hahn closed the meet with by capturing the javelin with a toss of 135.0 and joining Mullins-Hall, Bryant and senior Vanessa Lagios on the winning 4×400-meter relay squad.

For the second straight year, Campbell won the hammer and discus at the meet. The senior threw the hammer 162’4″ and discus 138’11”. Campbell was supported in both events by Commodore freshman Kasi Foster, who finished sixth in the discus and eighth in the hammer.

In other action Saturday involving Commodores:
? Sophomores Caitlin Shannon and Alisa Cotter closed behind Bryant to finish fourth and seventh in the 800-meter run, with 2:15.83 and 2:16.58 efforts, respectively. Both Shannon and Cotter also turned in solid 1,500-meter performances Friday evening.

? Senior Allyson Sisler finished second behind Hahn in the javelin with a toss of 120’4″.

? Hahn and Ewing finished sixth and eighth overall in the 100-meter hurdles. Ewing also finished fifth in the high jump behind Hahn.

? Lagios and senior Mary Baldwin ran fourth and sixth in the 400-meter hurdles, respecitvely.

? Kathryn Yates and Laura Miller finished second and third behind Roberts in the pole vault with clearances of 10’6″ and 10’0″, respectively.