By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech track and field program will close out the 2021 regular season Saturday, making the quick trip up I-40 to Knoxville for the Tennessee Challenge hosted by the University of Tennessee.
Tennessee Challenge
May 1, 2021 – Located at Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. Saturday's action will kick off with field events at 10:30 a.m. CT and running events at 11:00 a.m.
The Field
The Tennessee Challenge field consists of host Tennessee, as well as Auburn, Belmont, Clemson, Lipscomb, Louisville, Middle Tennessee, Tennessee Tech and Virginia Tech.
What to Watch For
After a couple of weeks of practice, the purple and gold head to Knoxville for the Tennessee Challenge, Tech's final event of the 2021 regular season.
Seniors Tieara Norman and Teauna Anderson are coming off of strong performances at the Black and Gold Invitational, pacing the Golden Eagles squad in Nashville. Norman won her heat and finished fifth overall in the 400m hurdles, racing to a season-best mark of 1:02.87. For Anderson, it was a personal record in the 400m run, storming to a time of 1:01.59 and top-15 finish.
Freshman Samaria Allen turned in a season-best distance of 5.00m in the long jump, finishing second in her heat and earning a spot in the finals. Sophomore Lyn'Nikka Vance placed third in the same event, leaping to a mark of 5.67m after leading Tech in the 200m Friday night.
After competing in both the 200m and shot put last night, sophomore Anya Akili again took part in a pair of events, running a season-best time of 16.08 in the 100m hurdles. The Mason Hall, Trinidad and Tobago native also took part in the javelin, turning in a throw of 25.93m.
Freshman Cayla Johnson collected the best showing in the javelin, ripping off a distance of 27.29m for a new PR. She also cleared a distance of 1.53m in the high jump. Fellow rookie Kendall Medders earned a top-10 in the high jump with a height of 1.58m.
Up Next
The Golden Eagles wrap up the 2021 season at the Ohio Valley Conference Championships, hosted by Eastern Illinois in Charleston, Ill. from Thursday, May 13 through Saturday, May 15.
Photos by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information