May 17, 2009
SEC Championships Final Results
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Vanderbilt track and field team closed the book on the 2009 regular season as they wrapped up the fourth and final day of the SEC Outdoor Championships at Percy Beard Track at James G. Pressly Stadium Sunday. Although the team standings weren’t what the Commodores would have liked it to be, the coaches and student-athletes took some positives out of the long weekend.
“They were small improvements made this weekend,” head coach D’Andre Hill said. “A majority of our team ran close to their personal best and season highs so we were able to take some positives out of the weekend. Rita and Teegan just missed the cut to advance to the finals in their respected events (1500m and 400m).”
Vanderbilt freshman Louise Hannallah posted the team’s top finish of the day, running a 17:40.36 in the women’s 5000-meter run, good for 16th place overall. Amanda Scott finished five runners back of Hannallah with a season-best 18:09.47 while Alexa Rogers turned in an 18:27.27.
“Overall we had some good performances in the 5K that just came up a little short,” distance coach Steve Keith said. “They can use these close efforts as motivation and come back stronger and wiser.”
VU high jumper Mallory Hitt matched Hannallah’s 16th-place effort with one of her own as she cleared the 5-03.00 bar in the high jump Sunday. The event marked the eighth event of the weekend for Hitt as the versatile junior competed in the women’s heptathlon on Thursday and Friday.
The SEC Outdoor Championships wraps up the regular season for the Vanderbilt track and field team. VU’s Jorgensen will now turn her focus to the NCAA Regional meet at the end of the month. This year’s Mideast Regionals will take place May 29-30 in Louisville, Ky.
Jorgensen owns regional qualifying times of 4:24.32 (1500m) and 2:09.20 (800m). It marks the second consecutive season that Jorgensen has clocked provisional times in the 800 and 1500.
The 2009 campaign marked a season of ups-and-downs for the Commodores starting with the indoor season back in January. The ‘Dores had problems with injuries all season as a few runners never stepped a foot on the track during weekend competitions. Despite of this the coaching staff and student-athletes are buying into making the program better.
“Our program is moving in the right direction, it’s just a great conference,” Hill said after the meet. “This weekend was another opportunity for our kids to see where this program needs to go in order to compete in the best track and field conference in the country. We are making small improvements, we just need to take the next step.”
Results- Sunday May 17, 2009
5000-Meter Run – 16. Louise Hannallah, 17:40.36, 21. Amanda Scott, 18:09.47, 24. Alexa Rogers, 18:27.27, Adrienne DiRaddo, DNF
High Jump – 16. Mallory Hitt, 1.60m (5-03.00 ft.)
Pole Vault – Katherine Hendricks, NH, Meagan Martin, NH
4×100 Meter Relay -Vanderbilt (Jackson, Hill, White, Jos., Carr), DQ
