KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt track and field team showed strong form throughout the first of races at the Tennessee Relays at the Tom Black Track.
Kacie Breeding took third for the Commodores in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, clocking an 11:09.92.
The bulk of the squad competed in the 1,500 meters where Reagan Bustamante led a large Commodore contingent with a 4:29.54 effort that missed her seasonal best by two seconds. Other Commodore finishers in the event were Ginger Hutton (4:32.07), Grace Jensen (4:32.52), Lauren Moffett (4:36.17), Anna Grace Morgan (4:37.56), Gillian Mortimer (4:43.02), Kendall Derry (4:40.84) and Caroline Pietrzyk (4:45.14). Moffett, Morgan and Mortimer notched personal bests during the event.
Freshman Haley Walker just missed her collegiate outdoor best in the 800 meters, running a 2:09.84.
Fifth-year senior Jenn Edobi also recorded a solid performance in the 400, finishing ninth with a time of 54.90.
Taiya Shelby and Regan Clay each competed in the 200, running 24.70 and 25.30 respectively.
Devon Grisbaum finished the 5,000 meters with a time of 18:29.65.
“It was a solid day with a couple of personal bests in the 1,500,” said head coach Steven Keith. “It was good to be back competing after a weekend off. We are looking forward to a couple of good relays and the pole vault tomorrow.”
In men’s competition, Nick Laning collected a personal best in the 1,500 meters, clocking a 3:53.99. Evan Suzman (15:19.58), Caleb Casolaro (15:30.58) and Andrew Irvine (15:58.97) each competed in the 5,000-meter run.
The Commodores are expected to run strong sprint medley and 4×800-meter relay units on Saturday. In the pole vault, Kristen Denk will return to competition, competing for her first time outdoors while junior teammate Margaret Ollinger will look to clear the 13-foot barrier.
Saturday
Pole Vault – Kristen Denk, Margaret Ollinger
4×800 Relay – Vanderbilt (Derry, Jensen, Hutton, Walker)
1,600 Sprint Medley – Vanderbilt (Clay, Shelby, Edobi, Bustamante)
