LEXINGTON, Ky. — Vanderbilt Track and Field punched six more tickets to the NCAA Championships after the final day of East Region competition on Saturday at the UK Outdoor Track.
“It just really sums up a lot of the focus we've been having from day one, just coming in and saying it, believing what we can do at Vanderbilt. It’s more than just being participators in the NCAA, but being contributors”, director of cross country and track and field Althea Thomas said.
The eight total collected tickets to Eugene has been the most the program has collected since Thomas has been at Vanderbilt, reflecting the positive progression within the program. “Year by year, piece by piece, season by season, it has really permeated the ladies from the ones who graduated, who move the needle forward so that the incoming group can start at a higher level, have a higher expectation, and have that support behind them from the alum before them.”
Falon Spearman punched two tickets throughout the day, earning her first one by resetting her program record in the 100-meter hurdles with the time of 12.89 seconds. Her time of 55.65 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles earned her a second qualification to the national stage.
Madyson Wilson also earned two spots in Eugene, also qualifying in the 400 meter hurdles alongside Spearman with a time of 56.93. Wilson joined forces with Josie Donelson, Faith Franklin and Joy Moorer to earn a spot on the national stage with a time of 3:31.17.
Jayden Hill competed in the quarterfinals for the 800 meters, finishing with a time of 2:00.92 to advance to the finals. Joining Falon Spearman in the 100-meter hurdles, Falon Spearman reset her record of 13.18 seconds to mark the second-fastest time in the program record books. Marta Sivina’s heptathlon score of 5,935 from the SEC Championships finalizes her spot in Eugene as well.
Representing the Dores in the distance events, Lily Kriegel finishes the 5,000 meters with a time of 16:09.75. In the field events, Mackenzie Dagrosa finished with a high jump mark of 1.76 to tie her personal best while Cali Bryant posted a mark of 1.71 meters. Lena Gooden, who punched her ticket for the long jump on Thursday, finished with a mark of 12.18 meters.
Vandy will compete in the NCAA DI Outdoor Championships June 10-13 in Eugene, Oregon. Fans can also follow Vanderbilt track and field on Facebook, Instagram and X at @VandyXCTrack.