Chattanooga freshmen Michaela Dabney and Kennedy Reynolds earned All-Freshman honors on the final day of the Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Samford in Birmingham, Ala.
The pair were two of the three top freshman finishers in the 1500 meter run. Reynolds was 12th overall with a personal best time of 5:06.52 and Dabney was two spots behind at 5:19.09
Maddie Wheatcroft just missed all-conference honors in the race, getting out-leaned at the line and Kathryn Vradenburgh also scored for UTC placing fifth.
“The race started slow and all the girls had great positions,” Chattanooga head coach Andy Meyer said.
“With about 700 meters to go, the race favorites accelerated and Maddie and Kathryn were right there to go with them. Both made up places in the last 250 meters. Maddie actually got to third but was out leaned at the line.”
Wheatcroft posted a personal record (PR) in the race at 4:30 .56 as did Vradenburgh at 4:35.69. Leah Boyd finished just outside of the scoring runners in ninth at 4:47.70 and Lexi Foley ran a PR time of 4:56.97, placing 10th.
Vradenburgh scored for Chattanooga in the 5000 meter run finishing sixth with a time of 18:11.74. Wheatcroft was ninth at 18:17.13.
“The 5k was a race of attrition due to the afternoon heat and humidity,” Meyer said. “The race went out very slowly and the girls again were in a good position to go when the race finally sped up. Kathryn and Maddie stayed off the back of the lead pack and passed runners who could not hold pace. Kathryn had a fantastic close in the last 700m.”
Sarah Unterholzner made up for her finish in the 400 meter prelims after hitting the final hurdle and walking across the line as the final qualifier. She scored for the Mocs placing eighth with a time of 1:05.92.
The Mocs scored in both relays finishing seventh in each.
Unterholzner led off the 4x100 meter Relay, handing off to Foley. Oliva Steele ran the third led and Reynolds anchored for a time of 56.41.
Unterholzner led off the 4x400 meter Relay with Foley taking the second leg. Ava McGue picked up the third leg and Reynolds once again anchored the Mocs for a time of 4:07.54.
Chattanooga finished ninth overall and this was the final collegiate meet for seniors Kathryn Vradenburgh, Hannah Dearing and Allie Potter.
“We will miss them all,” Meyer said.
1500 meter All-Freshmen
Kennedy Reynolds
Michaela Dabney