NASHVILLE, Tenn. — On the final day of the Vanderbilt Invitational, the Vandy track and field student-athletes recorded six event wins and registered 11 marks ranking in the program’s all-time top 10.
“It was amazing this weekend how this team has been so focused and intentional in how they practice, and it’s showing in how they compete,” director of cross country and track and field Althea Thomas said. “When we host a meet, we’re letting people know this is our track. This is the first time in the past five seasons that I’ve been here that we have won or gotten second, and sometimes first and second, in almost every single event. It shows not only the type of people and athletes we have on the team, but it also shows their intention and focus to make sure they represent themselves and the new Vandy. It’s amazing to be able to coach these ladies and see my staff pour into every single one of them so we can have a well-rounded team.”
To kick off Saturday’s action, Mackenzie Dagrosa won the invite division of the high jump with a 1.73-meter clearance.
All three Commodores, London Jackson-Bray, Danielle Dunning and Alima Kassim, advanced to the 60 meters semifinals, and Jackson-Bray and Kassim qualified for the final. In the final, Jackson-Bray earned a second-place finish with a time of 7.47 seconds. Kassim registered her best time of the day during the semifinals where she clocked 7.58 seconds. In the semis, Dunning registered a time of 7.63 seconds.
Vandy’s trio of 60-meter hurdlers moved onto the event final as each Dore won their respective heat. Taylor McKinnon won the final race with a personal-best time of 8.27 seconds, which is ranked fourth in school history. Santana Spearman and Janie Ford placed second and fourth with respective times of 8.39 and 8.50 seconds. Ford matched her personal-best time, which is ranked eighth all-time at Vandy.
Lily Kriegel added her name to the program’s record books in the mile, turning in a time of 4:44.70, which is fifth-fastest in school history.
In the triple jump, Anya Carey was the Dores’ top jumper, winning the event with a personal-best mark of 12.49 meters. Anaya Webster finished right behind Carey, recording a 12.47-meter mark, which was also a PR. Their respective marks are No. 4 and 5 in Vanderbilt history.
Sarah Marvin won the shot put competition with a season-best 15.32-meter throw.
Three Commodores turned in program all-time top 10 times in the 400 meters. Josie Donelson, who won the event, clocked 53.32 seconds, ranked third all-time at Vandy. Faith Franklin and Joy Moorer recorded times of 53.43 and 54.61 seconds, respectively, which are the fourth and eighth-fastest performances in school history.
In the 800 meters, Jayden Hill matched her personal-best time of 2:05.50 to win the event. The mark is ranked third in program history. Kelty Oaster was not far behind, finishing second overall with a time of 2:07.08, which is No. 4 all-time at Vanderbilt.
Claire Petersen earned an eighth-place finish in the 3,000 meters with a time of 9:31.76. Her mark is also eighth in school history.
In the last event of the day, Madyson Wilson, Moorer, Falon Spearman and Franklin won the 4×400-meter relay, registering a time of 3:35.61.
The Dores will have a weekend off before they split up and hit the road for the Bob Pollock Invitational and the John Thomas Terrier Classic Jan. 30-31.
Fans can follow Vanderbilt track and field on Facebook, X and Instagram at @VandyXCTrack.
