Golden Eagles continue hot start to indoor season at Bellarmine Open
LOUISVILLE, Tenn. – It was another strong showing of results for the Tennessee Tech indoor track & field team Friday, as the Golden Eagles took part in the Bellarmine Open at Norton Health Care Sports and Learning Center in Louisville, Ky.
By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
LOUISVILLE, Tenn. – It was another strong showing of results for the Tennessee Tech indoor track & field team Friday, as the Golden Eagles took part in the Bellarmine Open at Norton Health Care Sports and Learning Center in Louisville, Ky.
Junior Kendall Medders delivered a spectacular showing in the high jump, clearing a new personal-best height of 1.65 meters (5'5") to place third among 13 competitors. The mark tied for the top mark in the Ohio Valley Conference so far this season.
Making up the purple and gold's 4x400-meter relay squad, Trenia Stephens, Paris Bowles, Malika Coutain, and Amara Nwajagu teamed up to deliver a season-best showing. The group clocked in with a total time of 3:57.59, placing third in the event overall.
Returning for the 400-meter dash individually, Nwajagu, Coutain, and Stephens all produced personal records on their way to strong results. Turning in the top mark in the OVC this year, Nwajagu placed second among 25 total sprinters with a time of 56.59. A freshman, Coutain delivered a sixth-place showing with a time of 58.57 while Stephens clocked in at 59.76 to finish 11th overall.
Competing in the mile run, junior Helen Pacurariu-Nagy produced the league's fifth-fastest result of the young season. The Tech veteran placed 10th among the 25 runners with a PR of 5:15.63. Also taking part on the distance side, junior Ruby Wyles took home a sixth-place finish in the 3,000-meter run. She delivered a final time of 10:22.96.
Among 19 competitors, two Golden Eagles placed in the top three in the long jump, led by rookie sensation Sidnee Stanton. The freshman erupted for a new PR with a distance of 5.60 meters (18'4.5"). Right behind her teammate, senior Anya Akili turned in her own indoor, personal-best showing with a leap of 5.56 meters (18'3").
For the triple jump, the purple and gold produced the top two performances on the day. Rookie Jalyn Rice won the event with a new personal record of 11.57 meters (37'11.5"). Stanton continued her spectacular day with a second-place finish in the event, producing a PR of 11.55 meters (37'10.75").
Up Next
The Golden Eagles compete next at the Indiana Relays hosted by Indiana in Bloomington, Ind. on Friday, Jan. 27 and Saturday, Jan. 28. Tech is also slated to send some competitors to the Tigers Indoor Invitational, hosted by Sewanee in Sewanee, Tenn. on Saturday, Jan. 28.
Photos by TTU Track & Field
