Vanderbilt Invitational marks season opener for Tech indoor track & field team
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech track and field program kicks off its 2023-24 indoor campaign with a two-day event in Nashville, competing at the Commodore Challenge Friday and Saturday.
By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech track and field program kicks off its 2023-24 indoor campaign with a two-day event in Nashville, competing at the Commodore Challenge Friday and Saturday.
Vanderbilt Invitational Information
Jan. 17-18, 2025 – Located at the Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility in Nashville, Tenn. Friday's action will kick off with multi events at 9:00 a.m. CT, field events at 11:00 a.m., and running events at 5:15 p.m. On Saturday, multi events will open at 8:30 a.m., field events will begin at 10:00 a.m., and the final running events are slated to kick off at 11:45 a.m.
What to Watch For
The Golden Eagles feature a healthy mix of youth and experience heading into the 2025 indoor campaign, highlighted by a pair of competitors recognized prior to the season by the Ohio Valley Conference. Junior sprinter Paris Bowles was named Tech's OVC Preseason Track Athlete to Watch while sophomore jumper Ally Beneke was selected as the purple and gold's OVC Preseason Field Athlete to Watch. Both return following impressive performances at the OVC Championships last season, including a silver-medal showing by Beneke in the high jump.
Also back for the Cookeville crew after scoring points at the indoor championships last season are sophomore jumper Madison Johnson, senior long-distance runner Helen Pacurariu-Nagy, senior distance runner Maddie Long, sophomore pole vaulter Carolina Bannach, and long-distance runner Makaleigh Jessee. Other point scorers as part of relay squads were returning senior Kategie Casseus, junior distance runner Kendall Johnson, and sophomore distance runner Hayley Stegall.
New to the group but raring to get after it is a healthy helping of newbies to the purple and gold, starting with Boise State transfer Naomy Lokiles and distance rookies Alexis Dotson, Hannah Faudi, Megan Forstner, Zaely Tilt, and Rylee Wells. Freshmen jumpers Cameron Bryan and Tyla Street join rookie sprinters Rachael Brewer, Aliyah Kennedy, and Hannah Little to round out the group.
Up Next
The Golden Eagles travel to Birmingham, Ala. for the UAB Vulcan Invite. Competition is set for Friday, Feb. 7 at the Birmingham Crossplex.
Photo by Michael Wade
