April 21, 2017
Virginia Challenge
Event: Virginia Challenge
Dates: Apr. 21-22
Host: University of Virginia
Vanderbilt saw a pair of school records set on Friday at day one of the Virginia Challenge, as seniors Courtney Clayton and Sarah Bell broke their own records in the 800-meter run and pole vault, respectively.
Bell (pictured above) cleared the bar at 14–0.50 and earned first place in the pole vault invite. She was joined in the top 10 in the standings by Caleigh Lofstead, who finished third with a height of 13–0.75, and Margaret Ollinger, who earned a sixth-place finish after clearing 12–6.75.
Clayton’s new record time sits at 2:05.07 after a strong race that saw her finish fifth in a loaded field. Freshman Reagan Bustamante was the next Commodore finisher, as she placed 17th with a time of 2:08.46, which marks a new personal best. Maddie Criscione placed 35th with a time of 2:11.54 and the trio of Lydia Witty (2:13.92), Kendall Derry (2:14.25) and Ginger Hutton (2:14.90) rounded out the field in the 800-meter run for the Commodores. Derry’s time was a new personal-best.
Vanderbilt also got a strong performance from freshman Becca Schulte in the 400-meter dash. Schulte won her section and finished 15th overall as she matched her personal-best time of 56.26.
Day one of the Virginia Challenge concluded with the 10000-meter run and freshman Mailin Struck finished on a good note for Vanderbilt. Struck finished 15th with a time of 36:28.02, which places her ninth all-time on Vanderbilt’s outdoor season performance list.
Day two was highlighted by six Commodores setting new personal-best marks. Senior Carmen Carlos led that group with a new top time of 16:26.36 in the 5000-meter run, which also ranks fifth all-time in Vanderbilt history. Two more Vanderbilt runners set PRs in the 5000-meter run alone, as junior Megan Huebner ran a time of 16:46.10 and sophomore Devon Grisbaum crossed the finish line at the 17:45.55 mark.
Sophomore Ginger Hutton and junior Maddie Criscione were the top two Vanderbilt finishers in the 1500-meter run with times of 4:29.08 and 4:30.60, respectively, both of which were personal bests.
Freshman Becca Schulte was the other Commodore to set a new personal best on the day with a time of 25.32 in the 200-meter dash.
Vanderbilt will be on the road once again next weekend when they’ll travel to Baton Rouge, La. for the LSU Relays.
