By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A number of season-best showings highlighted another strong weekend in Nashville for the Tennessee Tech indoor track & field team, as the Golden Eagles wrapped up action at the Vanderbilt Invitational Saturday.
For the second consecutive week, it was rookie Carolina Bannach providing the headline by yet again shattering the program record in the pole vault. After setting a new Golden Eagle standard in the event last week with a mark of 3.42 meters (11'2.5"), an impressive 0.28 meters better than the old record, the freshman cleared 3.55 meters (11'7.75") on Saturday, placing fifth overall in the event.
Also blowing past her previous personal-best showing in the pole vault was fellow rookie Angela Hoover. The newcomer turned in a display of 3.25 meters (10'8"), topping her inaugural result of 3.17 meters from a week ago and providing her an 11th-place finish.
Adding to a dazzling display by Tech freshman during the weekend, rookie Ally Beneke delivered a new PR in the high jump, tying for sixth overall with a mark of 1.65 meters (5'5"). Also tying for sixth with an identical leap was fellow freshman Madison Johnson. Veteran Kendall Medders rounded out the group with a 13th-place finish and jump of 1.60 meters (5'3").
Yet another rookie delivered a career-best performance on the weekend, with Mattie Bush turning in a distance of 5.13 meters (16'10") in the long jump. Sophomore Sidnee Stanton produced a pair of season-high leaps in Nashville, including marks of 5.36 meters (17'7") in the long jump and 11.34 meters (37'2.5") in the triple jump.
On the track side of things, a pair of Golden Eagles enjoyed success in their first career attempts in the 3,000-meter run. Freshman Makaleigh Jessee raced to a time of 10:23.84 while sophomore Ava Costello clocked in at 10:48.02.
In the 5,000-meter run, veteran Helen Pacurariu-Nagy led the Tech trio with a time of 18:41.87 in her first attempt of the season. Maddie Long crossed the finish line at 19:06.63 in her first try while Lauryn Jackson finished at 19:42.85.
Rookie sprinter Bay'Andria Hodges paved the way for the purple and gold in the 60-meter dash, blazing to a finish of 7.79 seconds. In the 400-meter dash, veteran Amara Nwajagu delivered an impressive performance, clocking in at 57.80 seconds.
"We are happy with the team's performance this week, especially considering the weather we have had," Tech assistant coach Tony Cox said. "The weather just added an extra challenge to our training this week, but our athletes did a great job in making the necessary adjustments."
The Golden Eagles compete next at the YSR Open, a one-day event hosted by Sewanee on Saturday, Jan. 27 in Sewanee, Tenn.
File photo by Thomas Corhern
