By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech track and field program kicks off its 2023-24 indoor campaign with a two-day event in Nashville, competing at the Commodore Challenge Friday and Saturday.
Commodore Challenge Information
Jan. 12-13, 2024 – Located at the Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility in Nashville, Tenn. Friday's action will kick off with field events at 12:00 p.m. CT and running events at 5:00 p.m. On Saturday, field events will begin at 11:00 a.m. while the running events are slated to kick off at 12:00 p.m.
What to Watch For
The Golden Eagles bring back a large number of veterans from a squad that earned a fourth-place finish at last year's Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championships for the 2023-24 season. That bunch will team up with a healthy crop of newcomers expected to only add to the success of the purple and gold this year and beyond.
Graduate veteran Anya Akili returns for her swan song in indoor competition after delivering a runner-up performance in the long jump at the OVC Championships last season. She recorded a PR of 5.67 meters (18'7.5"). Sophomore Sidnee Stanton also turned in a podium finish in the long jump last season, securing third place with a PR of 5.67 meters (18'7.25").
Senior Cayla Johnson placed fourth in the long jump in last year's OVC Championships and picked up a fourth-place showing in the pentathlon. Akili and Johnson both picked up points for Tech in the pentathlon, with Akili finishing fifth.
Junior Kendall Medders captured a bronze medal in the high jump while fellow junior Amara Nwajagu contributed several points across a number of events. Nwajagu placed fourth in the 400-meter dash, seventh in the 200-meter dash, and joined sophomore Paris Bowles as half of a 4x400-meter relay crew that finished second.
Long distance veteran Helen Pacurariu-Nagy enters her senior campaign after tracking down fourth points with a fifth-place showing in the 3,000-meter run. She also teamed up with senior Rahab Sawe to make up half of Tech's fifth-place distance medley relay squad.
Up Next
The Golden Eagles head back to Nashville for the Vanderbilt Invitational. Competition is set for Friday, Jan. 19 and Saturday, Jan. 20 at the Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
