By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech track and field team concludes the 2024 regular season at the Outdoor Music City Challenge, competing at the Vanderbilt Outdoor Track Complex Friday and Saturday.
Tennessee Invite Information
Apr. 26-27, 2024 – Located at the Vanderbilt Outdoor Track Complex in Nashville. Friday's action will kick off with field events at 12:00 p.m. CT and running events at 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, field events will get started at 10:00 a.m. while running events will open at 1:30 p.m.
What to Watch For
The Golden Eagles head to Nashville with plenty of momentum on their side, posting a number of great finishes at last week's Catamount Classic in Cullowhee, N.C. There were plenty of podium displays throughout the weekend, as well as numerous personal records and season-best marks.
In the 800-meter dash, Paris Bowles was just one of the Tech crew to stand taller than anyone else, earning a first-place finish with a season-best time of 2:13.38. Joining her with medalist honors was Ally Beneke, leading an incredible effort from Tech in the high jump behind a season-best-tying mark of 1.66 meters (5'5.25") on the fewest attempts. Madison Johnson matched the leap on more attempts, settling for a second-place display with her top showing of the season. Kendall Medders and Cayla Johnson each tied for third in the event with jumps of 1.61 meters (5'3.25").
In the 5,000-meter run, Cookeville native Maddie Long captured another first-place finish for the Golden Eagles, clocking in at 18:08.24. Savanna Amos locked down a personal record while placing fourth with a time of 18:50.04.
Delivering a runner-up showing in the 200-meter dash, Amara Nwajagu recorded the 10th-best time in the Ohio Valley Conference this year with a season-best mark of 24.64 seconds. Bay'Andria Hodges was close behind, finishing fourth with a time of 24.84 seconds.
Carolina Bannach continued her sensational rookie campaign with a second-place display in the pole vault. The freshman cleared 3.55 meters (11'7.75") to turn in both a PR and an outdoor school record. Angela Hoover placed third overall in the triple jump, flying to a season-best mark of 11.23 meters (36'10.25").
Continuing across the banner day for the purple and gold, Hodges blazed to a fifth-place showing in the finals of the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.23 seconds. In the 100-meter hurdles, it was veteran Anya Akili paving the way with a fifth-place showing of 14.92 seconds in the finals. Cayla Johnson locked down a season-best time of 15.58 seconds.
Stretching out to the 1,500-meter run, Helen Pacurariu-Nagy paced a group of PRs with a top-10 showing and a new career-best of 4:48.66. Makaleigh Jessee followed closely behind with her own PR of 4:52.10. Right on her heels with her own personal-best mark of 4:52.80 was Hayley Stegall. Kendall Johnson also finished under five minutes, clocking in with a season-best 4:58.70.
In the long jump, Akili's season-best leap of 5.40 meters (17'8.75") was good for a sixth-place finish while Sidnee Standon placed seventh with a jump of 5.31 meters (17'5.25"). Cayla Johnson produced a mark of 5.28 meters (17'4") to round out the trio of qualifies for the final. Johnson also recorded a new season-best mark in the shot put, tallying a distance of 11.81 meters (38'9") to place fifth.
Tech's 4x400-meter relay team turned in an eye-popping race, winning the event with a season-best mark of 3:49.02. That time was also good for the second-best performance in the OVC this season.
Up Next
The Golden Eagles close out the 2024 campaign at the Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Championships hosted by Eastern Illinois in Charleston, Ill. from Thursday, May 9 through Saturday, May 11.
Photo by Michael Wade
