JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The 2026 outdoor season for the Vanderbilt track and field team got off to a strong start as the Commodores had three event winners and another five top-three finishers on day one of the Hampton Inn River City Relays in Jacksonville, Fla.
The day started with Vanderbilt taking three of the top four spots in shot put and ended with Sofia Day running away from the pack to win the 1,500-meter race.
In shot put, Sarah Marvin tossed 15.19 meters, just shy of her personal best of 15.91 meters, to win the event. Gianna Bullock took third with a mark of 12.06 meters and Devyn Parham placed fourth with a distance of 11.49 meters.
Mya Georgiadis won the 400-meter hurdles by nearly two seconds, crossing the finish line in 1:00.78.
Day had a strong outdoor season debut in the 1,500 meters, winning the race in convincing fashion. She posted a time of 4:32.32 to win the event by nearly four seconds.
Other top-three finishers on the day came in long jump, pole vault, and the 200-meter dash.
Sophomore Kayleigh Stargell set a new personal best to take second in long jump. She entered her final attempt in third place after posting 5.72 meters in her first jump of the event. But on her final attempt, Stargell recorded a mark of 5.91 meters to leap into second place. It was a new personal best for Stargell and moved her into eighth in Vanderbilt history.
Jacqueline Rose was one of three athletes to clear the 3.65-meter height in pole vault, tying her for the meet high, but Rose would finish third due to tiebreakers.
Then, to close out the first day of the meet, Vandy saw a pair of runners finish on the podium in the 200-meter dash. Lena Gooden ran the best time of her heat, 24.25 seconds, to place second and Alima Kassim ran her heat in 24.30 seconds to take third.
The Commodores conclude the Hampton Inn River Relays Friday, with the day’s events getting underway at 10 a.m. CT.
