May 17, 2012
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt track and field team will send six athletes to the NCAA East Preliminary Round to be held in Jacksonville, Fla., May 24-26. The event will be hosted by the University of North Florida.
In the 1,500 meters, Kristen Findley will be looking to build off a school record at fourth-place finish at the SEC Outdoor Championships. Findley clocked a time of 4:16.57 in Baton Rouge, a mark that meets the Olympic B-standard. Findley is the 12th seed in the event, with the top seed being Georgetown’s Emily Infeld at 4:12.44
Kristen Smith will compete in the 5,000 meters. Smith’s best time of 16:21.22 came at William & Mary’s Colonial Relays and makes her the 24th seed in the event.
Brionne Williams and Ellie Tidman will both compete in the high jump. Williams mark of 1.78m (five feet, 10 inches) came at the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Invitational and is tied for 18th entering the preliminary. Tidman’s top mark of 1.77m (five feet, 9.75 inches) came at the Colonial Relays.
The pole vault will also see a pair of competitors in Meagan Martin and Morgan Toone. Martin’s mark of 3.97m (13 feet, 0.25 inches) is 23rd entering the regional and came at the SEC Championships. Toone’s top jump of 3.90m (12 feet, 9.5 inches) came at the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Invitational and is tied for 30th in the region.
The top competitors in each event will move on to the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which will be held June 6-9 in Des Moines, Iowa.
