Jan. 27, 2008
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Junior Lauryn Smith won the long jump to lead the Vanderbilt track and field team at the Middle Tennessee Classic held Saturday at the Murphy Center on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University.
“We made some progress this weekend and were able to get some things done,” Vanderbilt head track and field coach D’Andre Hill said. “Lauryn (Smith) had a big jump and Katherine (Hendricks) had a good performance in the pole vault. We’re starting to lock in to what we need to do. We’re getting into the real heart of our indoor season so we’re going to keep pushing forward and trying to make progress.”
Smith’s victory in the long jump marked the first individual event win of the year for the Commodores. The junior had a season-long jump of 18’10, six and a quarter inches longer than the second place finisher, Sarah Nambawa of MTSU.
“If she can stay healthy, Lauryn has the potential to be a top performer for us,” Hill said. “She has to potential to earn some points at the SEC Indoor Championships in a few weeks if she continues to progress.”
The `Dores also had strong performances in the 4×440 yard relay and the pole vault. The Black and Gold had teams finish second and third with times of 3:58.24 and 4:02.21. Freshman Katherine Hendricks recorded a season-best in the pole vault as she cleared 11’02.25.
The Commodores return to action this Thursday as they travel to Baton Rouge, La., for the LSU Combined Events.
