University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Husky Classic
UT Sharp in Final Regular Season Tune-Up
February 14, 2015 | Track & Field
Feb. 14, 2015
Tyson Final Results | Husky Final Results
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Tennessee Track & Field brought its indoor regular season to a close Saturday as it finished up competition at the Tyson Invitational in Arkansas and the Husky Classic in Seattle. In all, UT totaled seven top-10 finishes and three new personal-bests across the two meets.
The Volunteers will now turn their attention to the SEC Indoor Championships, held Feb. 27-28 in Lexington, Kentucky.
The 13th-ranked Tennessee men notched three new personal best marks in Fayetteville on Saturday, as well as a new season-best time in the 4x400-meter relay. Freshman and reigning SEC Men's Runner of the Week Christian Coleman came away with a new personal-best in the 200 meters, finishing seventh in the seeded heats in a time of 21.08. Also recording new PRs in the 200 meters were Jerimy Strainge (21.63) and Nathan Strother (21.69). Later in the evening, that trio teamed up with freshman Malik Elion to post a season-best time of 3:13.81 in the 4x400 relay.
Another PR came in the field events as Wesley Edwards finished fifth in the high jump with a mark of six feet, nine inches (2.06 meters).
Junior pole vaulter Jake Blankenship took part in the highly competitive pole vault invitational Saturday at the Randal Tyson Track Center. The second-placed vaulter on UT's all-time indoor record list finished third (18-6.50/5.65) amidst the star-studded field. The title went the way of Akron's Shawn Barber, who set a new collegiate record with his winning vault of 19 feet, 1.25 inches (5.90).
"Across the board we had some great stuff in Arkansas this weekend," said director of track and field/cross country Beth Alford-Sullivan. "Jake took third in a great NCAA pole vault competition and Christian Coleman looked strong in the 200 meters. Felicia Brown turned in another good time as well. We got a lot done this weekend. It was a good final tune up and we're looking forward to SECs."
On the women's side, Cassie Wertman came in third in the women's shot put invitational behind a throw of 53 feet, 9.25 inches (16.39). Felicia Brown (23.79) and Felecia Majors (24.24) each logged a fourth-place finish in their respective heats of the seeded women's 200 meters.
Meanwhile in Seattle, Kyle Walter capped a strong weekend for Tennessee distance runners with a new PR of 8:14.12 in the men's 3000 meters. That time gave him an eighth-place finish in the highly competitive field.
Walter's PR gave UT a total of three in three races while in the Emerald City. On Friday night, cross country All-American Chelsea Blaase finished third in the women's 5000 meters and moved into second all-time in Tennessee's indoor history with a time of 15:50.40. Not long thereafter, Austin Whitelaw turned in a personal-best of his own in the men's 5000 meters, posting a time of 14:06.84 -- the seventh-fastest ever at Tennessee.
"We had a great experience, both last night and today, here in Seattle," said Sullivan. "All three competed well and executed well. The environment at the Husky Classic was awesome and that was a big reason why we made the trip. They do a great job of hosting the meets here and they just keep getting faster and faster."
Blaase began the day ranked seventh nationally in the 5000 meters following her strong performance last night.
"Chelsea was just tremendous, moving into third all-time at Tennessee, and I'm really happy to see Austin crack the top 10," Sullivan added. "We're excited to get back home and get back to work."
TENNESSEE WOMEN'S RESULTS SATURDAY AT TYSON INVITATIONAL
Triple Jump: Brielyn Rogers - f
200m (Seeded): 20. Felicia Brown, 23.79; 40. Felecia Majors, 24.24
Shot Put (Invite): 3. Cassie Wertman, 53-9.25 (16.39)
TENNESSEE MEN'S RESULTS SATURDAY AT TYSON INVITATIONAL
High Jump: 5. Wesley Edwards, 6-9.0 (2.06)!
Shot Put (Open): 5. Matthew Hoty, 58-4.75 (17.80)
200m (Open): 33. Jerimy Strainge, 21.63; 37. Nathan Strother, 21.69!
200m (Seeded): 9. Christian Coleman, 21.08!
Pole Vault (Invite): 3. Jake Blankenship, 18-6.50 (5.65)
Shot Put (Invite): 8. Tavis Bailey, 61-2.75 (18.66)
4x400m Relay: 16. Tennessee `A' (Nathan Strother, Christian Coleman, Malik Elion, Jerimy Strainge), 3:13.81!
TENNESSEE RESULTS SATURDAY AT HUSKY INVITE
Men's 3000m: 8. Kyle Walter, 8:14.12!
! - Personal Best, $ - SEC Record, a - American Record, b - Banked Track, c - Collegiate Record, adv. - Advanced, dna - Did Not Advance, dnf - Did Not Finish, dnr - Did Not Run, dns - Did Not Score, dq - Disqualified, F - Foul, f - Facility Record, fr - Freshman Record, fr* - Tied Freshman Record, fs - False Start, H - Heptathlon, h - Hand-Timed, mr - Meet Record, nh - No Height, nm - No Mark, P - Pentathlon, sr - School Record, u - Undersized Track, w - wind-aided, wr - World Record
