By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech outdoor track & field team utilized its final tune-up before the Ohio Valley Conference Championships, continuing a strong campaign with its final regular-season action at the Outdoor Music City Challenge in Nashville on Friday and Saturday.
Sophomore Naomy Lokiles led the charge with a historic showing in the 5,000-meter run, delivering the third-fastest time in program history. The Kitale, Kenya native set a new personal record with a mark of 16:45.00, the second-best time in the OVC this season.
Producing the fourth-fastest 5K in the league this season, sophomore Makaleigh Jessee turned in a PR of her own, crossing the finish line at 17:18.56. Rookie Megan Forstner rounded out the spectacular display in the 5K for the purple and gold, cracking the OVC's top-20 with a new career-best time of 18:17.24.
Securing the third-best performance in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in the OVC this season, junior Kendall Johnson continued progressing with a big PR of 11:17.67. Freshman Rachael Brewer enjoyed another successful run in the 400-meter hurdles, completing the event at 1:04.37.
In the 1,500-meter run, youngsters Rylee Wells and Hayley Stegall each chalked up new personal bests, with the rookie Wells leading the way with a mark of 4:39.83. The sophomore Stegall followed closely with a time of 4:46.90.
Junior Paris Bowles turned in a nice showing of 2:15.12 in the 800-meter run while a quartet represented the purple and gold well in the 4x400-meter relay. Bowles teamed up with Kategie Casseus, Hannah Little, and Aliyah Kennedy to clock in at 3:57.74.
In the field, sophomores Ally Beneke and Madison Johnson paced the Cookeville crew with strong performances in the high jump. Benek, the reigning OVC Female Field Athlete of the Week, cleared 1.72 meters (5'7.75") while Johnson turned in a career-best mark of 1.67 meters (5'5.75").
Freshman Tyla Street made the finals in the triple jump, launching to a distance of 11.39 meters (37'4.5").
Several members of the Tech men's cross country team took part in distance events as individuals, producing a slew of personal records along the way. James Hyland placed second with a new PR in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, clearing the nine-minute mark with a time of 8:59.49.
Carter Bradford locked down a new personal-best showing in the 1,500-meter run, clocking in at 3:52.79. Robert Dawson ran to a career-best mark of 8:49.44 in the 3K.
Competing in the men's 5K, Zak Myles-Hawkins led a trio of Golden Eagles with a new PR of 14:50.40. Dante Torres followed with his own PR of 15:31.15 while Sam Bridges closed out the group with a personal-best 15:38.04.
The Golden Eagles next head to Cape Girardeau, Mo., for the OVC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, running Thursday, May 15 through Saturday, May 17.
File photo by Reily Rogers
