Vanderbilt Invitational Witnesses Record Entries; New Mondo Track Surface Attracts Collegiate Competitors 4/17/03

Nashville, Tenn. - The prospect of competing on the Southeastern Conference’s newest track complex has pushed entries to the Vanderbilt Invitational to record levels, according to officials of the meet scheduled Friday and Saturday on campus.

More than 750 competitors from 38 universities, both records for the annual event, are entered to participate in the two-day event, which is free of charge to the public. The total of 63 combined male and female teams this year is nearly double the 38 teams have participated in 2002.

“I am very pleased with the number of entries and teams competing. This is easily the largest meet we have conducted at Vanderbilt and is the response our athletic department hoped for when it decided to build the new facility. We wanted the opportunity to host larger meets, including the Southeastern Conference Championships,” Commodore Head Coach and meet manager Lori Shepard said.

The Invitational starts Friday at 6:00 p.m., with the long jump and shot put. Distance races starting at 7:00 p.m. Friday include the 1,500-meters, 3,000-meter steeplechase, 3,000-meters and 5,000-meters. Activity returns Saturday at 10 a.m., with the hammer throw and other field events. Running events are scheduled from 12:00 noon until 5:30 p.m.

The Tigerbelles from Tennessee State University are back to defend their title in the women’s division. Their chief competition should come from Southern Illinois, Illinois State, Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky and Vanderbilt, who finished a close second in 2002. In the men’s division, Middle Tennessee, Southern Illinois, Louisville and Tennessee State are among the favorites for the title. A number of outstanding participated running unattached, including former Vanderbilt All-American sprinter/hurdler Ryan Tolbert and former Middle Tennessee All-American long jumper Roland McGee, also are scheduled to compete.

The Vanderbilt women’s squad is led by versatile jumper/hurdler Josie Hahn, sprinter/hurdler Amanda Mullins-Hall, middle distance runners Cicely Campbell and Latisha Bryant, thrower Vensherrie Campbell, pole vaulter Paige Roberts, and distance runners Colleen Byrne, Caitlin Shannon and Jackie Wachsman.

The new Vanderbilt track and field complex, finished last November at a cost of $1.7 million, features a Mondo track surface, similar to the Olympic facilities for the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics. The eight-lane track is full of amenities, including a Mondo D-Curve for javelin and high jump events, new containment areas for hammer and discus, and a steeplechase water pool and jump. The track is one of only two Mondo surfaces in the conference.