Hilltopper Track & Field Closes Music City Challenge with 32 Season Top-Five Revisions

Friday, February 9

Nashville, Tenn.

Western Kentucky University

Vanderbilt Music City Challenge

Hilltopper Track & Field Closes Music City Challenge with 32 Season Top-Five Revisions

2/10/2018 8:03:00 PM | Track & Field

Results (PDF)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Weekend action from the Vanderbilt-hosted Music City Challenge has wrapped up as the Hilltoppers made 32 combined revisions to the season top-five lists in addition to a number of personal-best performances. Additionally, former Hilltopper All-American – and current volunteer assistant coach - Ventavius Sears ran an indoor lifetime best in the 400-meter with a 46.51, which ranks top-35 in the world.

"We saw some good things happen this weekend at Vanderbilt," head coach Erik Jenkins shared. "I was pleased with the continued progress our team has made through this indoor season."

Eighteen of the season top-five mark revisions came on the men's side from the Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility across the two-day meet. In the 60-meter, Austin Hayes (6.93) and Will Bush (6.94) each posted top-five season marks for the Hilltoppers. Action in the 200-meter race saw Hayes record a personal-best 21.53 for WKU's second-best time of the season. Kymari Gates also added a 21.83 in the event for a top-five adjustment. Three revisions were made in the 400-meter with the year's top mark coming from Oliver Alexandre with a reading of 47.64, who finished eighth in the event. Charles Shimukowa clocked a 48.80 while Maor Seged posted a 49.43.

Bryce Swindell ran a 2:03.67 in the 800-meter. In the mile run, Julien Cuyeu registered WKU's top mark of the year with a 4:20.80 mark. Taylor Scarbrough added a finish in 4:31.77 in the mile as well. Alexander Schell collected a 3,000-meter time of 9:03.18 for his best mark on the season.

In the 60-meter hurdles, Jonathan Hayden ran a preliminary time of 8.07 before clocking a personal-best 7.97 to finish third in the event. Hayden's mark is the top WKU time on the year and ranks third all-time in the Hilltoppers indoor record book.

Both of WKU's 4x400-meter relay units set new season-best marks. The 'A' unit clocked a 3:08.46 reading, which ranks third in WKU Indoor history. The 'B' squad crossed the line in 3:15.07 for the Hilltoppers' second-best time on the season.

In the field events, Alec Tanksley cleared 5.81 meters in the long jump for WKU's third-best mark on the season. Chard Muhwanga also made a pair of revisions, first in the shot put with a 12.77-meter mark followed by a 13.61-meter toss in the weight throw.

On the women's side, the Red and White collected 14 revisions on the season top-five lists. Juannae Lewis clocked a 25.65 in the 200-meter. Three Lady Toppers, including Ariel Terrell (55.63), Aairiona Hayden-Ransom (58.62) and Rebecca Cook (58.80) collected season top-five revisions in the 400-meter.

Savannah Ames ran a personal-best 800-meter time of 2:15.42 for WKU's top mark in the even this season.

The Lady Toppers' 4x400-meter relay team clocked a season-best mark of 3:47.96. Six more revisions came in the field events with a pair from Brianna Eskridge in the long jump (5.46 meters) and triple jump (12.01 meters). Morgan McIntyre cleared a 3.79-meter mark for WKU's fourth-best height on the season.

Adarian Gray (7.69 meters) and Kira Harmon (7.53 meters) posted a pair of revisions to the season top-five lists in the shot put and weight throw, respectively.

Coach Jenkins and the Hilltopper squads are back in action next weekend from Birmingham, Ala., with the Conference USA Indoor Championships on the schedule. At last year's championships, the WKU men's squad grabbed runner-up honors while the women brought home a fifth place finish.