Vanderbilt hosted its second indoor track meet of the year on Jan. 19 and 20. The Commodores competed against 44 other teams, including six SEC foes. When the dust settled, Vanderbilt found itself with two new school records and eight top-three finishes.
Graduate student Madison Murray started the meet strong for the Commodores with a personal best of 3.540 points in the pentathlon, which put her fifth in the event standings. However, it was in the long jump event where a Vanderbilt athlete finally cracked the top three.
In the unseeded long jump, two Commodores found themselves on the podium. Allyria McBride leapt 5.98 meters, landing herself in second place and first among collegiate competitors. Additionally, the jump was only one centimeter off of the school record. Freshman Lena Gooden fell just short of McBride, placing third with a 5.85-meter effort. Similarly, freshman Anaya Webster also impressed with a 5.79-meter jump that placed her in fifth.
The freshman heroics continued when Giavonna Meeks reset her own school record in the weight throw. On her third attempt, Meeks defied gravity with a 21.47-meter throw that gave her second place in the event. Notably, the only competitor who bested Meeks in the event was 2019 NCAA champion Sade Olatoye.
Julia Rosenberg wrapped up the first day of competition with another record-breaking performance in the 1,000-meter. The junior’s time of 2 minutes and 43.57 seconds shattered the previous record by nearly 3 seconds. In addition, Rosenberg beat her own personal best by 9 seconds.
Taylor McKinnon started the second day on a high note for the Commodores by qualifying for the final in the 60-meter hurdles thanks to a time of 8.69 seconds. McKinnon improved to 8.62 seconds in the final round which placed her fifth in the standings.
Vanderbilt’s throwers put on a show in the shot put with Veronica Fraley claiming third in the event and first among collegiate competitors with a distance of 16.68 meters. Sarah Omoregie came in fourth with a 16.46-meter effort. In the open division, Meeks came in second with a throw soaring 15.46 meters.
Long-jump phenom Allyria McBride showed her prowess on the track with a second place finish in the 400-meter. Her time of 54.56 seconds was the fifth fastest in program history.
The Commodores ended the meet strong, winning the competition’s last event, the 4×400-meter relay. The team of Gooden, McBride, Ella Escobar and Falon Spearman took home the gold with a time of 3:43.01.
The Commodores will travel to Boston, Ma. for their next two challenges: the Crimson Elite on Feb. 2 and the Bruce Lehane Scarlet & White Invitational on Feb. 3.
