April 3, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt track and field team returns to action this weekend as it sends split squads to Auburn, Ala., for the Tiger Track Classic and to Stanford, Calif., for the Stanford Invite.
“We’re looking forward to going to Auburn this weekend,” Vanderbilt track and field head coach D’Andre Hill said. “We weren’t able to get a lot of things done last week due to the weather. We have an opportunity to go to the site where the SEC meet will be held. The distance group will be able to face some great competition at Stanford so we’re excited about that.”
The Tiger Track Classic features three ranked SEC schools. Auburn (17th), Tennessee (16th) and South Carolina (21st) are all ranked in the latest top 25 poll released by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll. Other schools scheduled to compete include Kentucky and Tennessee State.
The Vanderbilt distance runners will travel to the Stanford Invitational this weekend. The distance runners have turned in some strong performances early in the outdoor season. Freshman Rita Jorgensen won two races last weekend at the Yellow Jacket Invitational, winning the 800 meters and the 1500 meters. Her time of 4:29.79 in the 1500 meters is the third-fastest time in the conference thus far in the outdoor season.
Senior Valerie Kazmer picked up a win in the 3000-meter steeplechase last weekend. Kazmer turned in a time of 11:03.14, besting her nearest competitor by nearly 10 seconds. That time also ranks as the fourth-fastest time in school history in the event.
“Rita and Val have had some great numbers for this early in the season,” Hill said. “We’re really excited as to where our distance program is going. We’re hoping they can build on that this weekend at Stanford.”
Live stats of the Tiger Track Classic will be available at deltatiming.com. A recap from both the Tiger Track Classic and the Stanford Invitational will be available at vucommodores.com.