NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt is set for its first road test of the indoor season, traveling to compete at the PNC Bank Lenny Lyles Invitational on Saturday.
The one-day meet will take place in Louisville, Kentucky, at the Norton Health Care Sports and Learning Center on Saturday. The Commodores will be competing against Middle Tennessee, Illinois State, Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Eastern Kentucky, Memphis, South Florida, Illinois, Southern Illinois, Indiana State, Western Kentucky, Marshall, Arkansas State and host Louisville.
Vandy is sending Ella Lambert, Julia Rosenberg, Cameron Fawcett, Joslin Blair and Niki Narayani to compete in the women’s mile and 3,000 meters. The Dores will also send Nick Laning, Zach Hodges, Philip Metcalf, Jonah Bird and Caleb Van Geffen to compete at the event.
Last week, Vandy hosted its second indoor meet highlighted again by numerous record setting performances. Day 1 of the Vanderbilt Invitational commenced with Jessica Creedon‘s pentathlon result of 3,555 points which placed her sixth in school history and second on the day. Haley Bishop not only added another program record to her pedigree but also a personal best in the 200 meters.
On day 2, Madison Fuller’s time of 7.46, a personal best, in the 60 meters earned her a silver finish and the No. 2 spot all-time in school history. Fuller won her heat with a qualifying time of 7.56 in the prelims.
Bishop also raced in the sixth and final heat of the 60 meters, qualifying for the finals with a time of 7.46 on the afternoon. Grace Jensen cruised through the first heat of the mile finishing at 4:39.79, a personal record for the senior. Her time positions her fourth in the nation and reset the school record.
Taiya Shelby made her 2022 indoor debut, competing in the 800 meters. Shelby finished with a time of 2:07.83 making her fourth all-time in school history. Bishop set a school standard of 23.53 in the 200 meters making her 10th in the nation in the event and fifth in the conference.
Divine Oladipo competed in her record breaking event, shot put, and tallied a mark of 17.29m [56’8.75”], for second-place. The Commodores wrapped up the Vanderbilt Invitational in true Vandy fashion, dominating the 4×400 meter relay.
Shelby, Jordan Smith, Nicole Anderson and Kaira Brown won the event and entered the top-10 in school history at 3:42.49. The quartet’s time is good for seventh in the Southeastern Conference and ranks inside the top-35 in the nation. Ella Escobar, Josephine Dal, Creedon, and Jensen also raced in the 4×400 finishing at 3:51.02 for fifth overall.
After Saturday, Vanderbilt will compete in the two-day Charlie Thomas Invitational hosted by Texas A&M on Feb. 4-5.