NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Friday’s action at the Music City Challenge was highlighted by Giavonna Meeks’ program record-breaking performance in the weight throw and the personal and season-best marks set by 11 different Dores.
To start the morning, Rowan Houston recorded a season best 1.61-meter mark in the high jump. In the invite division of the same event, Madison Murray matched her season best with a clearance of 1.64 meters.
Anaya Webster was the second freshman and 11th overall finisher in the seeded division of the long jump with a mark of 5.52 meters.
Several Commodores shaved time off their personal best mile marks. Ashlee Gallegos turned in a 7 second PR of 4:54.48, while Catherine Sommerfeld shaved 6 seconds off her previous best time, crossing the finish line in 4:51.30. Sommerfeld was the fourth freshman and 22nd overall finisher out of more than 100 runners. Johna Grisik also recorded a collegiate-best time of 5:04.99 in the event.
For the third time in three meets, Meeks reset the school record in the weight throw. She had a top mark of 21.88 meters and finished third among collegians and fifth overall. Meeks was ranked fourth in the SEC, 14th in the NCAA in the event heading into the day’s competition.
Lena Gooden recorded a personal-best time and the No. 7 mark in Vanderbilt history in the 200 meters to finish second among freshmen and eighth overall. She crossed the finish line in 24.61 seconds. In the same event, Haley Bishop (24.66 seconds) and Ella Escobar (24.92 seconds) had season-best performances, while Falon Spearman (25.36 seconds) recorded a personal best. Bishop placed 10th out of more than 60 runners in the 200 meters.
To end the night in the 5,000 meters, Gigi Clifford knocked 24 seconds off her previous personal best, coming in fourth in her heat with a time of 17:19.45. Running the event for the first time, Jenna Holland finished with a time of 17:30.24.
Competition continues Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with the unseeded division of the 3,000 meters. Action is streamed on SEC Network+, and live results are available online.
