The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s track team will open the outdoor season Saturday, March 9 at the Gamecock Quad Invitational hosted by Jacksonville State at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala.

“We are looking forward to shifting the focus to outdoor season,” Chattanooga head coach Andy Meyer said. “While indoor is fun, outdoor is what everyone loves. The tracks are a little wider, less turns to run around and just more room to run your race.”

Field events will kick off the meet beginning at Noon Central Time. Taylor Grayson will compete in the Hammer Throw while freshmen Rebekah Hampton and Rebekah Bryant will both take part in the Long Jump and the Triple Jump. Grayson will compete in the Shot Put to close out the field portion of the meet.

“We are definitely excited to see them jump and throw,” Meyer said. “Coaches Gadson and Reno have done a great job getting them ready for the outdoor season.” 

The meet will be a rolling start for each event. The 3000 meter Steeplechase will start the track events at 1:30 p.m. CT followed by the 4x100 meter relay.

“We are moving kids into their specialty event(s) and allowing them to focus more on race tactics here at JSU,” Meyer said. “Not so much pacing, but race strategy.”

The first track event for the Mocs will be the 1500 meter. Chattanooga will field five runners in the meet including Sophia Neglia, Haley Morris, Brianna Nelson, Julia Henderson and Hannah Caldwell. 

Nelson will run the 400 meter along with Katie Coker. Neglia and Morria will be joined in the 800 meter run by Abby Bateman, Ashlynd Broling, Taylor Sawyer and Nicole Buehrle.

“Coach Amanda Cotter will have the mid distance runners ready for this first outdoor meet,” Meyer said. “They have really worked hard and she does an outstanding job of coaching these young ladies.”

Hampton will run the 100 meter Hurdles while Rebakah Wich and Emily Poole will close out the individual races with the 5000 meter.

The Mocs have two teams set to run in the 4x400 meter relay which will conclude the meet.

The weather forecast for Saturday in Jacksonville is for showers early and to become a steady rainfall later in the day with a high in the mid 60s.

“The weather looks a little questionable for the meet, but everyone has to run in the same conditions,” Meyer said. In a meet like this, many times it isn't the fastest, but the mentally toughest who prevails.

“Being tough and competing well in adverse conditions will pay huge dividends later down the round as the season progresses.”

 The meet is set to start at 12:00 p.m. Central Time and will be a rolling start throughout the day, meaning each event will start as soon as the one before is completed. Results will be posted on GoMocs.com as they become available.

 

400m

Katie Coker                                         FR

Brianna Nelson                                 SR

 

800m

Abby Bateman                                  SO

Ashlynd Broling                                 FR

Taylor Sawyer                                    SO

Nicole Buehrle                                  SO

Sophia Neglia                                     FR

Haley Morris                                      SR

 

1500m

Sophia Neglia                                     FR

Haley Morris                                      SR

Brianna Nelson                                 SR

Julia Henderson                                SO

Hannah Caldwell                              SO

 

5000m

Rebekah Wich                                   SO

Emily Poole                                         FR

 

100mH

Rebekah Hampton                          FR

 

4x400m Relay

Coker, Henderson, Nelson, Bateman, Broling

Neglia, Poole, Caldwell, Broling, Sawyer, Morris

 

Long Jump

Rebekah Bryant                                FR

Rebekah Hampton                          FR

 

Triple Jump

Rebekah Bryant                                FR

Rebekah Hampton                          FR

 

Shot Put

Taylor Grayson                                  SO

 

Hammer Throw

Taylor Grayson                                  SO