June 8, 2016
Simone Charley and Katherine Delaney are headed to Track Town, USA. Looking to put an exclamation point on their outstanding seasons, Charley and Delaney will compete in the NCAA Championships at Hayward Field (Eugene, Ore.,) this week. Here’s a closer look at the meet:
Event: NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Day, Date: Wednesday-Saturday, June 8-11
Host: University of Oregon
Site: Hayward Field (Eugene, Oregon)
Meet schedule: HERE
Heat Sheet: HERE
Qualifying list: HERE
Live Results: HERE
Viewing schedule: HERE
l COMPETING FOR THE COMMODORES
Here’s a look at who will be wearing the Star-V this week (Times are Central):
THURSDAY
6:46 pm 1500 prelims (Vanderbilt: Katherine Delaney)
SATURDAY
5:30 pm Triple Jump (Vanderbilt: Simone Charley)
5:41 pm 1500 quarterfinals
l PUT US DOWN FOR TWO
With Charley and Delaney in the mix, the Commodores will have multiple representatives at the national meet for the first time since 2004. “Sending two athletes shows that we are on the right trajectory as a program,” said head coach Steve Keith. “We had a couple of others who were close to making it, and it could have been a really been a phenomenal group for us. We are very proud of Katherine and Simone, and we know that they will represent us well.” (See below for full interviews with Keith, Charley and Delaney).
l THE VETERAN & THE FIRST-TIMER
Charley, the All-American triple jumper, will be making her third consecutive appearance at the outdoor national meet and will be competing in the NCAA Championships for the fifth time in her career (three outdoor and two indoor). Delaney, a senior, is making her first trip to the Championships in track. She has, however, competed at the national event as a member of Vanderbilt’s cross country team.
l IN HER ELEMENT
Charley has proven throughout her career that she is at her best when the stakes are highest. At last year’s NCAA Outdoor Championships, Charley earned First Team All-American honors by delivering the best series of her career and finishing third among the incredibly talented field in Eugene. In 2014, she earned All-American Second Team honors after finishing ninth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
l HISTORY MAKERS
Charley has spent her first three years at Vanderbilt re-writing the school’s record books. She set new school records (indoor and outdoor) early in her career, and over the past two seasons, she has broken her own record on a routine basis. Charley set a new lifetime record at last month’s SEC Outdoor Championships with a leap of 45-0.5. Delaney is likewise one of the best in school history in the 1500. She set a new lifetime best with a time of 4:17.96 — which ranks as the No. 2 mark on Vanderbilt’s all-time performer’s list — at the NCAA East Regional.
l WHO TO WATCH
The host Oregon Ducks are defending men’s and women’s team champions, but the home teams will have plenty of stiff competition this week, including a deep and talented Arkansas team on the women’s side. Individually, Georgia sophomore Keturah Orji — one of the best triple jumpers in the world — is certain to be among the main attractions. (Sidenote: Six of the Top-10 ranked athletes in the triple jump are from the SEC, including four of the top 6).
Kat & Simone: YouTube l Charley Interview: YouTube l Delaney Interview: YouTube l
Keith Interview: YouTube