By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The long-distance runners paced the Tennessee Tech women's indoor track and field team on day one of the Commodore Challenge, delivering a quartet of top-10 finishes at the Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility in Nashville Friday evening.
Competing in her first indoor campaign for the Golden Eagles, Ruby Wyles led the way for the purple and gold, claiming medalist honors in the 5,000-meter run with a personal record time of 17:38.28. It marked just one of four top-10 finishes in the event for Tech.
Amanda Laboy was next among the Tech competitors, placing fifth in the 5,000 with a personal-best time of 18:18.04. Right behind her teammate in sixth place was Maddie Long, delivering her own PR of 19:09.96. Rounding out the Golden Eagle group in the 5,000-meter was Emma Bradford, clocking in at 19:42.47 for a personal record.
Freshman Kategie Casseus dashed her way to a personal-best mark in the 200-meter, producing a time of 26.47 to finish in the top-15. Samaria Allen followed with a mark of 27.70 seconds.
In the long jump, it was Allen taking her turn setting an indoor record with a PR of 5.23 meters (17'2") to place 12th overall. Anya Akili leaped to a distance of 5.22 meters (17'1.50") to collect a top-15 finish while reigning OVC Female Freshman of the Week Cayla Johnson collected a top jump of 5.09 meters (16'8.50").
Johnson posted a top-15 performance in the high jump, clearing 1.55 meters (5'1") to finish 14th overall.
Up Next
The Golden Eagles will wrap up competition at the Commodore Challenge on Saturday, Jan. 15 with field events slated to begin at 11:00 a.m. CT and the running events featuring a noon start.
Photo by TTU Track & Field
