March 19, 2015
Event: Alabama Relays
Day, Date: Friday-Saturday, March 20-21
Host: Alabama (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Site: Sam Bailey Track & Field Complex
Heat Sheets:
Friday: HERE
Saturday: HERE
Live Results: HERE
Online Viewing: WatchESPN/SEC Network+; Friday, 5-9 p.m. CT; Saturday, 2-6 p.m. CT
The Vanderbilt track and field team opens the indoor season this weekend, traveling to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for the annual John Mitchell Alabama Relays. The Commodores — coming off a successful indoor season that was capped by a strong showing at the SEC meet — will have roughly 10 individuals in action this weekend, along with three relay teams. Here’s a closer look at the meet.
l WHO’S JOING US?
This weekend’s meet is scheduled to feature athletes from 67 schools, representing 34 men’s teams and 33 women’s teams. The field includes: Alabama (men & women), Alabama A&M (M & W), Alabama-Birmingham (W), Alabama State (M & W), Allen County (Kan.) Community College (M & W), Arkansas State (M & W), Barton County (Kan.) Community College (M & W), Belhaven (M & W), Belmont (M & W), Chattanooga (M & W), Cloud County (Kan.) Community College (M & W), Georgia Tech (M & W), Jackson State (M & W), Lewis (M & W), Lipscomb (M & W), Louisville (M & W), McKendree (M & W), Meridian (Miss.) Community College (M & W), Middle Tennessee State (M & W), Mississippi State (M & W), Mississippi (M & W), Mississippi Valley State (M & W), Morehouse (M), Murray State (W), Northwestern (M), Samford (M & W), Southeastern Louisiana (M & W), Southeast Missouri (M & W), Shorter (M & W), South Alabama (M), Southern Mississippi (M & W), Stephen F. Austin State (M & W), Tennessee (M & W), Tennessee State (M & W), Troy (M & W) and West Alabama (M & W).
l COMPETING FOR THE COMMODORES
Scheduled for action this weekend for the Commodores are: Janetra Gleaves (100m, 100 HH), Emma Redan (400m, 400 IH), Ellie Tidman (high jump), Sarah Goodale (high jump, long jump), Sarah Bell (pole vault), Megan McCabe (pole vault), Katie Watts (pole vault), Tierney Price (triple jump), along with the 4×100 relay team of Jennifer Edobi, Faith Washington, Erin Edmond and Gleaves; the 4×200 team of Skyler Carpenter, Edobi, Washington and Edmond; and the 1600 SMR team of Courtney Clayton, Washington, Edmond and Carpenter.
l QUOTES FROM THE COACH
Here are a few comments from head coach Steve Keith regarding this weekend’s meet:
On his outlook for the weekend: “This meet is about getting back in the routine. For our kids, it’s been three weeks since their last competition, so it’s time to get back out there and get going again in the competitive environment.”
On the transition from indoor to outdoor: “There is an adjustment in some ways. Obviously, the weather is an element and you have a bigger track for the oval races. Basically, you’ve got to let it take its natural course in terms of how comfortable you feel in a slightly different environment.”
On the return of Sarah Bell from an injury: “She’s excited to be back. We’ve been bringing her back around slowly, so for her to be back out there in a competitive environment is a good step. We’ll let her progress naturally, and not try to force it.”
l LOOKING BACK
At last year’s Alabama Relays, Vanderbilt’s Sara Barron helped fuel a strong showing by the Commodores, taking third place in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:09.73. Other weekend highlights included the Commodores sprint medley team — comprised of Erin Edmond, Jennifer Cannon, Courtney Clayton and Skyler Carpenter — capturing first place in their event with a time of 3:56.19, and a second-place finish by Brionne Williams in the high jump (1.70m). Sarah Bell took fourth place in the pole vault (3.87m), and Vanderbilt’s 4×400 meter relay team — Edmond, Cannon, Carpenter and Clayton — finished fourth with a time of 3:45.02. Lily Williams took 11th in the 800 with a time of 2:14.98, and Sarah Goodale finished first in the 800 at 2:20.61 in the final event of the heptathlon, and was fourth overall in the heptathlon. In the 1500, Carmen Carlos took fifth place with a time of 4:31.19, and fellow freshman Reagan Anderson was 10th at 4:34.78.