Track and Field: Commodores shine across coasts with standout performances

Vanderbilt posts multiple event wins and top-10 program marks at Georgia Tech Invitational and Mt. SAC Relays.

Vanderbilt athlete throws the discus, as photographed on April 18, 2025. (Vanderbilt Athletics)

By Alexander Cheng, Staff Writer

Apr 24, 2025

Vanderbilt Track and Field had a packed slate over the past week, splitting squads between the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta from April 18-19 and the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, California on April 19. The Commodores put together a string of dominant performances, highlighted by event victories and several entries into the program’s all-time top-10 list.

Field

Multi-event athletes Devyn Parham and Marta Sivina competed in their first heptathlons of the season at the Mt. SAC Relays. Parham finished in seventh place with a final score of 4,777 points. The first-year notched personal bests in the 800 meters (2:20.51) and the 100-meter hurdles (13.95) — the latter representing the eighth-fastest time in school history. Sivina wasn’t far behind, finishing eighth with 4,735 points. Her top marks included a 5.59-meter long jump and a personal best of 2:16.07 in the 800 meters.

Track

Vanderbilt’s sprinters and distance runners turned in dominant performances in Atlanta. The Commodores came away with four individual event wins and six new top-10 program marks on the first day of the Georgia Tech Invitational alone.

Junior Santana Spearman led the sprints, winning the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.29 — the second-fastest in Vanderbilt history. Graduate Ellie Wolski claimed victory in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing in 10:35.66 — fourth-fastest all-time for the program. In the 5,000 meters, first-year Lily Kriegel led a Black and Gold sweep, winning the event in 16:40.34.

First-year Josie Donelson had a dominant performance in the 400-meter race, posting a 53.73 to finish second overall and first among first-years. Graduate Tina Benzinger clocked a 23.85 in the 200 meters, finishing third overall and etching her name into the fourth spot on the program’s all-time list. Allyria McBride continued her strong season in the 400-meter hurdles, winning the event with a 56.32.

In relay action, Vanderbilt’s 4×400-meter team (Donelson, McBride, Joy Moorer and Madyson Wilson) took first place in the event with a winning time of 3:36.08 — good for fourth-fastest in school history. The 4×100-meter team, consisting of Benzinger, Donelson, senior Ella Escobar and first-year Alima Kassim, raced a 45.70, which placed them second.

The Commodores will close the regular season in Nashville when they host the Music City Challenge from May 2-3.

About the Contributor

Alexander Cheng, Data Editor

Alexander Cheng (’28) is a first-year from Seattle. He is currently undecided, but has an interest in majoring in data science. When not writing for the Hustler, he can be found rooting for the Seahawks, UW Huskies and Commodores or searching for restaurants to try. He can be reached at [email protected].

Comments (0)

The Vanderbilt Hustler welcomes and encourages readers to engage with content and express opinions through the comment sections on our website and social media platforms. The Hustler reserves the right to remove comments that contain vulgarity, hate speech, personal attacks or that appear to be spam, commercial promotion or impersonation. The comment sections are moderated by our Editor-in-Chief, Barrie Barto, and the rest of our editorial team. You can reach Barrie at [email protected].

Share your thoughts...

All The Vanderbilt Hustler picks Reader picks Sort: Newest