Lainey Phelps - Women's Cross Country - Vanderbilt University Athletics

Lainey Phelps

Middle Distance

Class Senior
Hometown Homewood, Ala.
High School Homewood
Major Medicine, Health & Society
Bio

Career Results

Student-Athlete Highlights
• Competed at two NCAA DI South Region Cross Country Championships (2021, 2022)
• One program all-time top 10 mark

Academic Honors
• 2022, 2023 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll
• 2021-23 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll
• 2020-21 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll

In the Record Books
• Eighth in Vanderbilt history in the 1,000 meters (2:52.14)

As a Senior (2023-24) 
Cross Country
• Competed in five meets, scored at four
• 66th overall (21:40.6) at the 6K SEC Championships
• 52nd overall (17:34.8) in the Blue 5K at the one Piane Invitational
• Ninth overall (18:24.2) at the 5K Belmont Opener

As a Junior (2022-23)
Track & Field
• Competed in six meets, including the SEC Outdoor Championships
• Third in the 1,500 meters (4:27.08) at the Music City Challenge
• Third as a member of the 4×800-meter relay (8:54.67) at the Pepsi Florida Relays
• First as a member of the distance medley relay (11:42.03) at the PNC Lenny Lyles Classic

Cross Country
Competed in five meets
89th overall (21:45.3) at the 6K NCAA South Region Championships
• 73rd overall (21:234.9) at the 6K SEC Championships
• 90th overall (22:22.4) at the 6K Arturo Barios Invitational

As a Sophomore (2021-22)
Track & Field
• Competed in three meets
• Third as a member of the distance medley relay (11:38.24) and eighth in the 800 meters (2:11.09) at the Charlie Thomas Invitational
• 11th in the mile (4:57.05) at the Vanderbilt Invitational
• Sixth in the 1,000 meters (2:52.14) at the Commodore Indoor

Cross Country
• Competed in seven meets
60th overall (21:25.87) at the 6K NCAA South Region Championships
• 76th overall (22:11.9) at the 6K SEC Championships
• 18th overall and a personal best (17:52.1) at the 5K Commodore Classic

As a Freshman (2020-21)
Track & Field
• Competed in nine meets, including the SEC Outdoor Championships
• Second in the 1,500 meters (4:25.79) and 10th in the 800 meters (2:11.36) at Vanderbilt Black and Gold Invitational
• First as a member of distance medley relay (11:52.11) at the Vanderbilt Invitational

Cross Country
• Scored and finished top three among Vanderbilt athletes at four of four meets
• 52nd overall (21:32.0) at the 6K SEC Championships
• 17th overall (21:28.9) at the 6K Gans Creek Classic
• 15th overall (22:23.2) at the 6.08K Commodore Classic

The Phelps File
Lainey Phelps prepped at Homewood under head coach Tom Esslinger, where she was a letterwinner in cross country, track and field, and lacrosse. Her prep bests include 4:54 in the 1,600 meters, 10:44 in the 3,200 meters and 17:36 in the 5,000 meters. In 2016 and 2019, she was named the Alabama Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the Year and was honored as the Bryant Jordan regional winner in 2020. Phelps has won 15 state championships. While in high school, she was a member of the National Honor Society.

Personal
Lainey is the daughter of Alli and Peter Phelps, and has one brother, Luke. Her aunt, Suzy Cahill Toner, swam and ran track at the Sewanee.