University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Tyson Invitational
Bailey, Coleman Runners-Up at Tyson Invite
February 13, 2015 | Track & Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Taking part in its final tune-up before the SEC Indoor Championships on Feb. 27-28, Tennessee posted five top-10 finishes in its first day of competition at the Tyson Invitational on the campus of the University of Arkansas.
Heading up UT's efforts on the opening day were three strong performances from three of the No. 13 Tennessee men's key cogs. In Friday night's weight throw, Tavis Bailey and Cameron Brown finished second and third, respectively. Bailey, posting a mark of 71 feet, 11.5 inches (21.93 meters), notched his best finish in the event since coming in runner-up at the Auburn Invitational on Jan. 17. Meanwhile, Brown -- fresh off a huge weekend in which became Tennessee's new record-holder in the event -- was right behind Bailey with a mark of 68 feet, 9.75 inches (20.97).
The third-place finish snaps Brown's streak of four consecutive meets with an individual victory in the weight throw. It was the second time in his career that he had rattled off four straight wins.
Just prior to the conclusion of the men's weight throw, Christian Coleman settled a successful night in the 60-meter dash with a second-place finish. The reigning SEC men's runner of the week posted a time of 6.65 in the event finals, capping an evening that saw him win his preliminary heat at 6.69 and come in third in the semifinal round at 6.64.
Coleman, a true freshman, now has finishes of first, first, and second in his three career starts in the 60 meters.
The Volunteers picked up two new PRs at the Randal Tyson Track Center -- the site of this season's NCAA Indoor Championships -- as Caroline Duer (5:11.23) established a new career-best in the women's mile and Chase Hilton (1:51.03) turned in a new personal-best in the men's 800 meters. Hilton finished 13th in his first-ever start in the event.
Another notable performance on the evening saw Felecia Majors record her fasted 400-meter dash time of the season at 53.91 seconds.
Saturday's session of the Tyson Invitational begins at 1 p.m. ET with four events awaiting the UT women and eight more awaiting the men. Fans can watch all the action live on SEC Network +, the online, digital component of the SEC Network. Coverage begins at 1 p.m. and can be accessed here.
HUSKY CLASSIC - Seattle, Wash.
Distance specialists Chelsea Blaase and Austin Whitelaw competed in the 5000 meters at the Husky Classic in the Emerald City on Friday night.
Cross country All-American Blaase came in second in the women's event, establishing a new career best of 15:50.40. That time currently ranks fifth in the NCAA and is the fastest seen in the SEC to this point by more than 20 seconds.
Whitelaw, a qualifier to the NCAA Cross Country Championships in the fall, turned in his own career-best of 14:06.84 to finish fifth in his heat in Seattle. The new personal-best mark is the second-fastest recorded in the SEC this season and will rank 14th nationwide. Whitelaw came in 24th in the competition overall.
Fellow distance runner Kyle Walter will wrap up UT's weekend in the Emerald City on Saturday as he runs the 3000 meters at 3:45 p.m. ET.
WOMEN'S RESULTS FRIDAY AT TYSON INVITATIONAL
Mile: 31. Caroline Duer, 5:11.23!
Long Jump: 21. Cidae'a Woods, 19-1.25 (5.82)
Pole Vault: Erin Champion - dns
400m: 20. Felecia Majors, 53.91
800m: Amirah Johnson - dns
60m (prelim): Cidae'a Woods - dns
MEN'S RESULTS FRIDAY AT TYSON INVITATIONAL
400m: 22. Nathan Strother, 47.39!
800m: 13. Chase Hilton, 1:51.03!; 25. Nick Kaiser, 1:52.05; 36. Antonio Carter, 1:53.89
60m (prelim): 8. Christian Coleman, 6.69
Weight Throw: 2. Tavis Bailey, 71-11.5 (21.93); 3. Cameron Brown, 68-9.75; 25. Deon McAdoo, 59-1.25 (18.01)
60m (semi): 3. Christian Coleman, 6.64
60m FINAL:2. Christian Coleman, 6.65
TENNESSEE RESULTS AT FRIDAY AT HUSKY CLASSIC
W 5000m: 2. Chelsea Blaase, 15:50.40
M 5000m: 24. Austin Whitelaw, 14:06.84
