Commodores Take First and Second in Pole Vault

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt pole vaulters took first and second on day two of the Black and Gold Invitational.
 
Caleigh Lofstead finished first at 12-11.5 (3.95 meters) while Margaret Ollinger took second with a mark of 12-7.5 (3.85 meters).
 
Taiya Shelby (12.28) and Regan Clay (12.64) started the day with personal bests in the 100 meter dash. Shelby’s time puts her eighth all-time at Vanderbilt in the event. The freshman joins Sophia Falco (2018) as the only athletes to be added to the top-10 times in the 100 meter since Taylor Jackson in 2011.  
 
Grace Jensen ran her second personal best of the weekend in the 800 meter run with a 2:10.90 for a fourth place finish. Reagan Bustamante took second with a 2:09.02. Haley Walker (3rd/2:10.17), Ginger Hutton (6th/2:11.85) and Kendall Derry (2:15.97)
 
The Dores took second, third, fourth and sixth in the 800 meters.
 
Caroline Pietrzyk (9:49.21) and Anna Grace Morgan (10:03.86) each ran outdoor bests in the 3,000 meters while Gillian Mortimer ran a personal best 9:50.25. Ana Wallace also finished the event at 10:08.60. 
 
In the men’s section of the event, Nick Laning finished first with a personal record 8:25.69. Andrew Irvine also ran a personal best 8:53.82. 
 
The Commodores set 18 personal records this weekend. 
 
“The theme of the weekend was getting in quality work, maybe doubling running a race both days and getting two good first race opportunities,” said head coach Steven Keith. “Everyone performed at a really nice level to start the outdoor season. We had a lot of PR’s and that’s the way you want to start the outdoor season. It gets our kids and the coaches pretty excited.”
 
Vanderbilt will be back in action March 28-30 in Gainesville, Florida at the Florida Relays.