By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For the first time since 2019, the Tennessee Tech outdoor track & field team sent at least one individual to represent the purple and gold at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field East Preliminary Championships on Saturday.
Sophomore Ally Beneke competed for the Tech squad at Hodges Stadium on the campus of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., taking part in the high jump on the fourth and final day of action of the East Preliminaries. Beneke was one of six female competitors to represent the Ohio Valley Conference during the preliminary championships.
The Smithville, Tenn. native became the first Golden Eagle to compete at the NCAA Preliminary Championships since Khemani Roberts and Purity Sanga took part in 2019.
On Saturday, Beneke cleared a height of 1.69 meters (5'6.5") on her first try before failing on three attempts on the next level of 1.74 meters (5'8.5"). She tied for 38th among 48 total competitors in the event.
"Ally finished her second season with us well," Tech head coach Peter Dalton expressed. "This is just the beginning for this great athlete, and we're excited to see where her progression takes her next year."
File photo by Reily Rogers
