Vanderbilt Track and Field had a busy weekend, hosting the Music City Challenge from May 2-3 to end the outdoor season. The Commodores were successful in numerous events, notching five overall victories. Despite a consistent downpour of rain on both days, Vanderbilt battled the elements to build momentum heading into the postseason.
Day One
Vanderbilt found immediate success on Day One, recording six program all-time top-10 marks and 18 season or personal bests. Anaya Webster got the day started for the Commodores, as she recorded a 5.65-meter jump to finish second overall in the long jump invite. In the pole vault, Jacqueline Rose added her name to the Vanderbilt record books, clearing a collegiate-best 3.70 meters, a tie for 10th all-time at Vanderbilt.
Four Commodores — Falon Spearman, Santana Spearman, Taylor McKinnon and Devyn Parham — punched their ticket to the final of the 100-meter hurdles, which took place on Day Two. Notably, Parham recorded a personal best and the No. 8 mark in program history, 13.80 seconds, to finish seventh.
Tina Benzinger finished second overall in the 200 meters with a season-best time of 23.65 while fellow teammate Josie Donelson clocked 24.33 seconds to place ninth. However, the Commodores weren’t finished on the track just yet. Julia Rosenberg won the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:16.98 while four other Vanderbilt athletes turned in personal-best performances. On the men’s side, Brady Bliven was Vanderbilt’s top finisher in the 1,500 meters, placing eighth overall with a time of 3:46.37.
Cameron Fawcett and David Song competed in the women’s and men’s 5,000 meters, respectively. They both earned personal bests, and Fawcett took second overall in the event.
Day Two
Vanderbilt began Day Two of the Music City Challenge by honoring its nine graduating student athletes.
“This weekend was very special because we honored our seniors,” Althea Thomas, director of cross country and track and field, said. “One of the messages we’ve talked about with the team recently is seeing things to completion. This week means a lot for the program, because this is our first group of individuals we [the coaching staff] have seen to completion, from freshman to senior year.”
Marta Sivina began the action on a rainy day in Nashville, Tennessee, winning the open high jump with a mark of 1.65 meters. This incredible victory was followed by a team win in the 4×100-meter relay. Escobar, Benzinger, Donelson and Alima Kassim recorded a season-best 45.51 seconds to win the event and earn the fourth-best time in Vanderbilt history. Santana Spearman took gold in the 100-meter hurdles invite — with a time of 13.33 seconds — while McKinnon and Parham turned in personal bests.
The Commodores pulled off an impressive sweep of the top five in the 400 meter hurdles. Allyria McBride took the top spot, finishing with a time of 58.47 seconds. Meanwhile, Eva Gautreaux and Rosenberg notched personal-best times in the 800 meters. Gautreaux turned in the No. 10 mark in school history, 2:07.13, and Rosenberg clocked 2:07.31. On the men’s side, Bliven managed to set the school record with a time of 1:49.06.
Vanderbilt finished a successful weekend with a victory in the 4×400-meter relay.
“We walked away with a lot of personal bests, a lot of continued changes to the Vanderbilt program top 10 lists and put ourselves in position to go to the SEC meet and represent what we do here,” Thomas said after Day Two.
Vanderbilt Track and Field will return to action at the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships from May 15-17 in Lexington, Kentucky.
