|
4/22/2006 Despite Wet Conditions, Vanderbilt Invitational Gets Underway Nashville, Tenn. – A pair of Commodore women athletes captured individual wins with record performances Friday to highlight the opening day activities of the Vanderbilt Invitational. Freshman Lauryn Smith opened the meet in excellent fashion for the Commodores, winning the long jump with a career best leap of 19’3.25″. The effort barely edged Leeann White of Austin Peay and MTSU’s Stephanie Tamgho. Commodore senior Caitlin Shannon took the opening running event, overtaking Alabama’s Julia Hicks in the final strides to win the 1,500 meters in 4:30.32. In other distance action Friday, Vanderbilt junior Amy Huss continued your solid recent form, winning the 3,000 meters in 9:37.06. Senior teammate Erika Schneble ran third in 9:53.83. The meet opened Friday under damp, threatening conditions. The forecast is for improving conditions Saturday when most of the field events and numerous running events are scheduled. More than 900 student-athletes, a record for the meet, were pre-entered. More than 40 teams are expected to be represented, including a men’s contingent from University of Tennessee and a women’s squad from the University of Alabama. Smith’s performance is the third longest by a Commodore and is nearly a foot farther than she has jumped earlier this season. In running one of the best races of her collegiate career, Shannon also moved into the Vanderbilt all-time Top 10 in the 1,500. Shannon’s performance was highlighted by a superb final 200 meters where she made up nearly 10 yards on Alabama’s Hicks. Another Commodore senior, Alisa Cotter, lowered her personal best by more than three seconds with a fourth place finish in 4:32.25. |
