By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A slew of personal-best performances highlighted the opening day of action at the Outdoor Music City Challenge for the Tennessee Tech outdoor track & field team Friday evening, as the Golden Eagles kicked off their final regular season event of the year in Nashville.

The distance squads made the most of their opportunities Friday, with a whopping 11 personal records falling just among the runners. Veteran Rahab Sawe led the charge in the 1,500-meter run, turning in a top-25 finish behind a PR of 4:54.71. Freshman Kendall Johnson just missed cracking the five-minute mark, settling for a personal-best mark of 5:01.00. Taylor Ward also delivered a PR, besting her previous record by 14 seconds at 5:25.39.

Competing in the 3,000-meter run, Helen Pacurariu-Nagy raced to a new career-best showing of 10:00.89 to place seventh overall. Maddie Long joined her teammate in the PR column, clocking in at 10:32.67, while Makenna Merkley record her own career-best showing.

All five of Tech's competitors in the 5,000-meter run delivered personal-best marks, led by Chloe Wade and a massive PR of 18:15.79. Placing 11th overall, she beat her previous record by nearly 45 seconds. Shaving more than 20 seconds from her previous best performance in the event was Lauryn Jackson, completing the race at 18:50.85.

Ava Costello was next, also trimming more than 20 seconds from her prior PR to post a time of 18:51.68. Emma Bradford continued the trend with a personal record of 18:55.54 while Shelby Udovich lopped off a full minute off her previous PR.

On the field side of things, Cayla Johnson erupted for a new career showing in the javelin, unleashing a throw of 28.55 meters (93'8") to best her previous top mark by more than a full meter.

The Golden Eagle sprinters, jumpers, and relay squads will finish off the Outdoor Music City Challenge Saturday, with field events starting at 11:00 a.m. CT and running events kicking off at 1:00 p.m. 

File photo by Emily Armstrong