OXFORD, Miss. — The Vanderbilt women’s track and field team wrapped up its weekend at the Joe Walker Invitational at Ole Miss on Saturday. On Day 2 of the competition, numerous Commodores recorded season and personal bests, and several earned spots in the school record books.
“Our athletes who competed this weekend did an amazing job taking advantage of an opportunity to make progress,” director of track and field Althea Thomas said. “With multiple personal bests, school records and entries into our program record books, this team is working relentlessly to reach our full potential.”
Senior Jada Sims snagged second place in the heptathlon with a score of 5,319 points, which is a personal best and No. 6 in Vanderbilt history. Sims finished first in the 800 meters with a personal-best time of 2:18.91 and second in the long jump (5.49 meters). In her first time competing in the heptathlon, senior Madison Murray earned eighth place with a score of 4,741 points. In the 800 meters, Murray shaved almost 2 seconds off her previous best time to clock 2:24.70 and finish fifth in the event.
For the third competition in a row, junior Veronica Fraley finished first in the discus with a throw of 54.14 meters.
In the shot put, freshman Sarah Marvin finished first among freshman competitors and fourth overall, throwing 15.24 meters.
Freshman Audrey Allman claimed third place in the open division of the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:27.11. Sophomore Ella Lambert recorded a personal best in the same event, clocking 4:35.81.
Freshman Taylor McKinnon recorded a time of 13.75 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles, earning fifth place.
In the 400 meters, graduate student Brooke Overholt notched the seventh-fastest time in Vanderbilt history (54.76 seconds), finishing in third place.
Sophomore Ella Escobar is tied for eighth all-time in school history in the 100 meters with a time of 11.98 seconds. Escobar recorded a personal best and finished seventh overall in the event.
“Even our men’s cross country athletes got an opportunity to compete with the V on their chest,” Thomas added. Vanderbilt men’s cross country freshman Dylan Ballard competed for the Dores in the 1,500 meters on Saturday. He claimed second place with a time of 3:53.23.
To wrap up the Commodores’ competition in Oxford, sophomore Cameron Fawcett and freshman Mackenzie Culpepper recorded personal bests in the 800 meters. Fawcett finished in the top 10 with a time of 2:12.76 and Culpepper finished the race in 2:13.96.
On Day 1 of the Joe Walker Invitational, freshman Giavonna Meeks and graduate student Beatrice Juskeviciute set school records in the hammer throw and javelin. Meeks surpassed the previous record, which was her own, with a 52.51-meter toss. Juskeviciute broke the javelin school record and claimed first place with a throw of 45.47 meters.
Several other Dores posted personal-best performances on day one. Sophomores Emma Curry, Julia Rosenberg and Cameron Fawcett notched career-best times in the invite section of the 1,500 meters. Sims and Murray recorded two personal bests, each, on the first day of heptathlon competition. Sims clocked 13.98 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles, which is No. 7 all-time in Vanderbilt history. Murray’s performance in the shot put was a personal best, reaching the 10.12-meter mark. Sims and Murray turned in personal best times in the 200 meters, finishing the race in 24.66 seconds and 26.17 seconds, respectively.
“From our freshmen, Giavonna, Audrey and Dylan, to our seniors, Beatrice, Jada, Madison Murray and Kaitlyn, posting season and personal bests, SEC-ranked performances and program records, this meet showed where we are and where we are going,” Thomas said.
Next, the Commodores will travel to Walnut, California, to compete in the Mt. SAC Relays from April 12-15.
Fans can follow Vanderbilt women’s track and field on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @VandyXCTrack.
