Tech shows off with numerous highlights at Catamount Classic
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – It was a banner weekend in Cullowhee, N.C. for the Tennessee Tech outdoor track & field team, as the Golden Eagles won a number of events and set numerous personal records while competing at the Catamount Classic, hosted by Western Carolina.
By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – It was a banner weekend in Cullowhee, N.C. for the Tennessee Tech outdoor track & field team, as the Golden Eagles won a number of events and set numerous personal records while competing at the Catamount Classic, hosted by Western Carolina.
Leading the way for the purple and gold with a first-place finish in the high jump was sophomore Ally Beneke, turning a massive PR with a mark of 1.76 meters (5'9.25"). The leap, which trails the Tech program record set by Khemani Roberts back in 2019 by just .01 meters (0.5"), represents the top mark in the Ohio Valley Conference this season. It also tied for sixth in the South Region, 20th in the East Qualifying Region, and 57th across all Division I.
Fellow sophomore Madison Johnson also registered a new career mark in the high jump, placing third with a leap of 1.66 meters (5'5.25"), the fifth-highest showing in the OVC.
Naomy Lokiles was a beast for the purple and gold, winning both the 800-meter and 1,500-meter. With a PR of 4:30.97 in the 1,500, the sophomore turned in the second-fastest mark in the league. Placing fourth with the eighth-best mark in the OVC in the event was Makaleigh Jessee, crossing the finish line at 4:41.52.
Junior Paris Bowles turned in a fourth-place performance in the 800 with a time of 2:17.18, while a duo of sophomores displayed career showings. Hayley Stegall placed eighth behind a new PR of 2:20.91 while Jessee ranked 10th, tallying a mark of 2:21.15.
Taking another podium pose with a first-place display, junior Sidnee Stanton won the long jump with a season's best leap of 5.70 meters (18'8.50"), the fifth-best mark in the league. Rookie Hannah Little ran well in the 100-meter dash, recording a new career showing with a sixth-place finish of 12.37 seconds.
Placing fourth in the triple jump, fellow freshman Tyla Street made the finals with a mark of 11.50 meters (37'8.75"). In the 400-meter hurdles, rookie Rachael Brewer turned in the fourth-fastest mark in the OVC this season with a new PR of 1:04.00.
Rounding out the group of first-place finishes, junior Kendall Johnson raced to a new personal record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Clocking in at 11:31.13, she also posted the seventh-best mark in the league.
Several members of the Golden Eagle men's cross country team took part in the Catamount Classic as individuals as well, producing at a high level. Zak Myles-Hawkins and Carter Bradford produced strong efforts in the 1,500-meter run, placing second with a time of 3:54.05 and third with a mark of 3:54.32, respectively.
Robert Dawson earned a PR in the event as well, tallying a time of 4:00.21. Also performing well, Sam Bridges crossed the finish line at 4:07.84, while Sam Bridges finished with a time of 4:13.25.
Myles-Hawkins, Bradford, and Torres each produced career marks in the 800-meter run, registering finishes of 1:54.76, 1:55.14, and 2:02.45, respectively. James Hyland captured a first-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, clocking in with a season-best 9:13.18.
The Golden Eagles head to Nashville for the Music City Challenge, hosted by Vanderbilt, competing on Friday, May 2.
File photo by Reily Rogers
