May 12, 2012
Saturday Results 
| Sunday Heat Sheet
BATON ROUGE, La. — Saturday action at the 2012 SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships saw Vanderbilt athletes compete in the 1,500 meters, pole vault, high jump and steeplechase.
The highlight of the day came in the high jump, where Ellie Tidman scored the first Commodore points of the championships with a sixth place finish. Tidman cleared 1.76 meters (five feet, 9.25 inches) to earn three team points.
“Ellie jumped very well and made come crucial first and second attempt clearances,” Vanderbilt Head Coach Steve Keith said. “She finished with three very solid attemps at a personal record. She competed well and it looked like she really enjoyed being in the mix.”
The Commodores also got points the pole vault, as Meagan Martin finished tied for eighth while clearing 3.97 meters (13 feet, one-quarter inch). Martin’s jump was a school record and she now has scored points at both the indoor and outdoor SEC Championships.
“Scoring at both is a nice way for a senior to finish off her Vanderbilt career,” said Keith of her performance.
The earliest action of the day for Vanderbilt came in the 1,500 meters, in which Kristen Findley is one of the top competitors. Findley ran safe to do her best at a top-three finish in her preliminary, which she accomplished in a time of 4:23.70.
“(Findley) finished well and didn’t have to over-extend herself, so we’re hopeful that there is more in her for the final tomorrow,” Keith said.
Also in the 1,500 meters, Kara Slavoski placed 21st (4:36.00), while Hannah Jumper was 34th (4:48.24).
The steeplechase saw Allie Scalf finish 11th with a time of 10:50.26, less than nine seconds out of the scoring.
Keith was pleased with the performances from his athletes on Saturday.
“Overall, we’re continuing to get some great experience for the younger team members and we’re still seeing the upperclassmen step-up,” he said. “We’ve got two very solid events tomorrow in the 1,500 and 5,000 and we should be able to finish on some high notes.”
Sunday’s action will see Vanderbilt field competitors in the 1,500 meters finals and the 5,000 meters.
Findley will compete in the 1,500 finals, which take place at 3:20 p.m. CT.
Seven Commodores will compete in the 5,000 – Kristin Smith, Alexa Rogers, Scalf, Grace Orders, Claire Benjamin, Jordan White and Findley.
Both the 1,500 and 5,000 meters can be seen as part of live coverage on ESPN3.com, which begins at 3:00 p.m. CT.
