By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech track & field team opened the 2022-23 indoor season with a number of career performances at the Commodore Challenge Friday, competing at Vanderbilt's Multipurpose Facility in Nashville.

The Golden Eagles turned in five top-10 performances on the first day of action, an excellent start to the newest campaign of the purple and gold. Kendall Medders got things started for the Tech squad on the day, placing fifth in her heat in the high jump. The junior turned in a personal-best showing of 1.58 meters (5'2.25").

In the long jump, a trio of Golden Eagles produced new career marks, led by veteran Anya Akili and her sixth-place finish. The senior lept to a distance of 5.54 meters (18'2.25") to pace the Tech effort. Rookie Sidnee Stanton followed close behind, placing eighth with a jump of 5.50 meters (18'0.25"). Also delivering a PR was freshman Jalyn Rice with a mark of 5.08 meters (16'8").

Taking part in the 200-meter dash for the first time in her career, sophomore Amara Nwajagu raced to an impressive time of 25.67 to place 10th in the event. Freshman Malika Coutain made her Golden Eagle debut with a 12th-place finish, clocking in at 25.90.

Junior Ruby Wyles was the top finisher in the 5,000-meter run, placing first in the field behind a time of 17:57.83 that ranked more than two full minutes than the next runner. Sophomore Diamond Rush developed a personal-best showing in the 600-meter run, a time of 1:49.87.

Two Golden Eagles managed personal records in the 300-meter dash, led by rookie Paris Bowles. Competing in her first meet of her Tech career, the freshman turned in a time of 41.70. Akili also posted her career-best finish of 42.28 in the event. 

Day two of the Commodore Challenge is slated to begin with field events at 11:00 a.m. CT in Nashville. Running events will commence at 12:00 p.m.

File photo by Thomas Corhern