NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Commodores kept their Day 1 momentum running on the second day of the Vanderbilt Invitational and added four more marks to the school’s all-time top 10 lists.
“In general, the meets we’ve been hosting have been able to attract some great teams who have some great performers in Division I, Division II and various conferences, and it allows our product at home to be such that our athletes can be tested,” director of cross country and track and field Althea Thomas said. “It was a great continuation from last week as we go from some off distances that aren’t contested on the NCAA level to what I like to call our Olympic events and let the athletes to have the opportunity to challenge themselves. It’s the kind of muscle we have to build in our conference.”
To start the morning on the track, graduate student Tina Benzinger earned a ninth-place finish in the 60 meters, clocking 7.60 seconds, which is the No. 4 time in program history. Sophomore Brenay Williams also added her name to the Vanderbilt record books in the 60 meters, turning in a time of 7.73 seconds, which is 10th on the all-time performers list. Sophomore Anaya Webster and junior Marta Sivina both recorded times of 7.75 seconds, a personal best for Webster. Junior Falon Spearman was right behind them with a time of 7.77 seconds. Sophomore Rowan Houston also posted a personal-best time of 8.19 seconds in the same race.
In the mile, senior Julia Rosenberg earned a runner-up finish with a time of 4:41.14. She was followed closely by teammate Ellie Wolski. The graduate student clocked 4:46.47 to finish fourth overall with the sixth fastest time in program history. Claire Petersen placed 12th overall in the event and first among freshmen with a time of 4:51.10. In addition to Wolski, four Commodores, including seniors Gigi Clifford (4:57.09) and Cameron Fawcett (4:53.24), junior Mackenzie Culpepper (4:59.77) and sophomore Elsa Steer (5:01.27), turned in personal-best times in the mile. Saturday.
On the field, sophomore Anaya Webster etched her name into the Vanderbilt record books, posting the No. 3 triple jump mark in program history, 12.25 meters. In the pole vault competition, freshman Jacqueline Rose earned a fourth-place finish with a 3.53 meter clearance. Senior Sarah Marvin recorded a 14.52-meter throw to place fourth in the shot put.
To end the weekend the Commodore 4×400-meter relay team of freshman Isabella Dagrosa, junior Allyria McBride…