Vanderbilt track and field announced on April 30 that it will host the annual Music City Challenge, welcoming 22 teams for its final regular season meet. The event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Nashville.
The competition will feature teams such as Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Arkansas State, Austin Peay, Belmont, Evansville, Indiana State, Jacksonville State, Life University, Lipscomb, Maryville College, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Murray State, Southern Indiana, Tennessee, UT Martin, Tennessee State University (TSU), Tennessee Tech University (TTU), Troy University, Vanderbilt itself, Vincennes University, Western Kentucky University (WKU), and Xavier.
This outdoor season has seen Vanderbilt athletes set seven new program records and achieve 26 additions to the school’s all-time top ten lists. In their most recent outing at the LSU Alumni Gold meet, Lena Gooden broke her own school record in the long jump with a mark of 6.31 meters. The same day saw Faith Franklin, Josie Donelson, Mya Georgiadis and Madyson Wilson set a new program record in the women’s 4×400-meter relay.
Vanderbilt is currently ranked third in the South Region. Four of its event squads—the 400-meter hurdles squad; high jump squad; 100-meter hurdles squad; and triple jump squad—are listed among the top ten nationally according to USTFCCCA’s Event Squad Rankings.
As postseason competition approaches with SEC Championships scheduled for May, thirteen Commodore student-athletes are ranked among the top ten in their individual events within the conference. Marta Sivina holds second place in the SEC heptathlon standings after scoring 5,665 points at the Joe Walker Invitational. Gooden is ranked third overall with a long jump personal best of 6.38 meters under all conditions.
Friday’s action begins with women’s javelin following completion of men’s javelin at approximately 10 a.m., while running events start at 5 p.m. On Saturday at 12:30 p.m., Vanderbilt will recognize twenty-one graduating seniors.
