Track Performs Well at Tyson Invite

2/12/2006

Fayetteville, Ark. — Vanderbilt junior Amy Huss ran the third fastest indoor 3,000 meters ever by a Commodore Saturday, finishing seventh overall at the prestigious Tyson Invitational on the University of Arkansas campus.

Huss, of Wyomissing, Pa., finished the race in 9:50.16, an improvement of more than 12 seconds off her previous best at the distance set two weeks ago in Johnson City, Tenn.. Two Commodore teammates, senior Erika Schneble and twin sister Debbie Huss, provided solid support with performances of 10:06.11 and 10:12.68, respectively.

Only two Commodores, former All-American Beth Tallent and Stephanie Black, has covered the indoor 3,000 meters faster than Huss. Tallent set the existing team mark of 9:41.90 in 1991. Black ran a 9:45.37 in 1989.

The performance makes Huss a solid contender for the upcoming Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships, scheduled Feb. 23-25 in Gainesville, Fla. Though Penny Splichal of Arkansas should enter as a heavy pre-race favorite, Huss should have one of the SEC’s top six times at the distance.

In other Commodore action this weekend, versatile senior Garnetta Holloway matched a long jump personal best competing at the Tiger Invitational in Clemson, S.C.

Holloway, from Cleveland, Tenn., finished fourth overall in the long jump with a 18’10.75″ leap, equalling her previous best set Jan. 22 at East Tennessee State’s Niswonger Foundation Track and Field Invitational. At the SEC Championships, Holloway will attempt to become just the third Commodore beyond 19 feet in the long jump.

A sampling of Commodore results at both the Tyson Invitational and Tiger Invitational follows:

Tyson Invitational
Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark.

3,000 meters: Amy Huss, seventh, 9:50;
Erika Schneble, 10:06.11;
Debbie Huss, 10:12.68;
Carmen Mims, 10:28.85.

Mile: Caitlin Shannon, 5:09.09;
Alisa Cotter, 5:12.48;
Carmen Mims, 5:19.32.

400 meters: Latisha Bryant, 57.65;
Lauren Fortson, 58.76.

Distance Medley Relay: Vanderbilt (Bryant, Fortson, Cotter, Shannon), sixth, 12:08.87.

Tiger Invitational
Univ. of Clemson, Clemson, S.C.

60-meter dash: Lauryn Smith, 8:14;
Sydney Faulkner, 8:20.

60-meter hurdles: Garnetta Holloway, 9.27;
Anjarae Washington, 10.34.

Distance Medley Relay: Vanderbilt (Brittney Duffy, Stephanie Douglas, Julie Ann Fenstermaker, Stephanie Mehr), sixth, 12:42.60.

Long Jump: G. Holloway, fourth, 18’10.75″;
L. Smith, 17’0.5″; S. Faulkner, 16’5.25″.

Shot Put: Deanna Morelli, 39’1.25″;
G. Holloway, 30’5.50″;
A. Washington, 29’11.25″.