The Chattanooga outdoor track and field team opened the 2024 season just down the road in Cleveland, Tenn., at the Lee University Invitational. Several PRs were set and 11 Top 10 finishes were recorded.
Leah Boyd ran a PR in the 1500 meter, placing second overall and was followed by teammate Kathryn Vradenburgh in third.
Boyd finished with a time of 4:40.37 and Vradenburgh was close behind in the same heat at 4:41.57. Maddie Wheatcroft finished fifth in the race at 4:45.06.
“The 1500 guys and girls did great,” Mocs head coach Andy Meyer said “We ended up having a couple heat wins, a few PRs in terribly windy conditions and some great competitive efforts.
“Leah and Kathryn went 2-3 in the fast heat. Lola [Baker], Hannah [Dearing] and Andrea [Ellis] did well in their heat. Kennedy [Reynolds] won her heat. Allie [Potter] ran very well.
Sarah Unterholzner finished third in the 400 meter hurdles at 1:06.01 and Ava McGue was eighth with a time of 1:16.60. Unterholzner ran a PR in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 16.22 placing 10th overall.
McGue was eighth in the high jump at 1.53 meters (5-00.25).
Chattanooga’s 4x400 meter relay team pulled in a third place finish. McGue led off followed by Olivia Steal, Lexi Foley and anchored by Unterholzner.
Foley and Steele each finished second in their 800 meter heats. Foley was eighth overall with a time of 2:22.74 and Steele posted a personal best.
“With all the wind they both stayed sheltered for the first 5-600m and then went hard,” Meyer said.
Jack Martin placed fourth in the men’s 5000 meter run early Saturday morning with a time of 15:08.69. Kaigen Mulkey was ninth with a PR 15:30.91.
“Both ran conservative first few Ks due to the wind and worked the last half of the race,” Meyer said.
Four men’s cross country team members ran the 1500 meter led by Eammon O’Bryant.
“Eammon ran down several kids to finish second in his heat,” Meyer said. “Riley [Hanson] was third in his heat. Tristan [Gould] won his heat.
“Overall it was a very good opening meet and some positive indicators for the rest of the season.”
Up next for select Chattanooga runners is the Raleigh Relays beginning March 28 and running through March 30.
Women 400m Hurdles
3 Sarah Unterholzner H1 • Yr: JR 1:06.01
8 Ava Mcgue H2 • Yr: FR 1:16.60
Women 800m
8 Lexi Foley H2 • Yr: SO 2:22.74
32 Olivia Steele PR • H5 • Yr: FR 2:42.90
Men 1500m
17 Eammon O'Bryant H2 • Yr: SR 4:05.50
19 Riley Hanson H3 • Yr: FR 4:06.01
45 Caleb Jarrett H3 • Yr: SO 4:18.48
58 Tristan Gould H5 • Yr: FR 4:24.26
Women 1500m
2 Leah Boyd PR • H1 • Yr: SO 4:40.37
3 Kathryn Vradenburgh H1 • Yr: SR 4:41.57
5 Maddie Wheatcroft H1 • Yr: SO 4:45.06
18 Andrea Ellis H2 • Yr: SO 5:02.28
22 Lola Baker H3 • Yr: FR 5:04.94
33 Michaela Dabney H2 • Yr: FR 5:14.81
36 Allie Potter H3 • Yr: SR 5:18.61
38 Kennedy Reynolds H4 • Yr: FR 5:19.87
42 Brooke Tyll H3 • Yr: FR 5:24.62
43 Hannah Dearing H4 • Yr: SR 5:25.89
Men 5000m
4 Jack Martin H1 • Yr: FR 15:08.69
9 Kaigen Mulkey PR • H1 • Yr: SR 15:30.91
20 Eammon O'Bryant H1 • Yr: SR 15:55.78
Women High Jump
8 Ava Mcgue F1 • Yr: FR 1.53m (5-00.25)
Women Long Jump
16 Ava Mcgue -1.8m/s • F1 • Yr: FR 4.30m (14-01.25)
Women 4x400 Meter Relay
3 Chattanooga A 4:21.50
'A' • H2 • L. Foley, A. Mcgue, S. Unterholzner, K. Reynolds