Trailblazer Track and Field faces tough competition at PNC Lenny Lyles

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Vincennes University Men's and Women's Track and Field teams were once again in action this weekend as VU headed back to Louisville, Ky. for the two-day PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational hosted by the University of Louisville.

The Trailblazers faced some very tough competition Friday and Saturday in Louisville, going up against several NCAA Division I athletes including athletes from traditional Track and Field powers like University of Miami (FL) and Florida State University.

The VU athletes held their own over the two day event and were able to put together some solid times and continue to show improvement early in the Indoor season.

The Vincennes men's track team was led by another outstanding weekend by sophomore Olamipo Ladipo (Sao Paulo, Brazil) who broke his own school record in the 200 meters, which he set last weekend, with a time of 21.41 seconds to finish 12th in the event.

Ladipo continued his weekend in the 4x400 relay along with teammates freshman Isaiah Ervin (French Lick, Ind.), sophomore Zion Pruitt (Avon, Ind.) and freshman Artezz Butler-Sanders (Indianapolis, Ind.), the Trailblazers relay team finished with a time of 3:21.78 to take 14th place overall.

Butler-Sanders would also compete in the 400 meter dash, placing 42nd with a time of 52.28 seconds.

Freshman Anis Abdaoui (Kairouan, Tunisia) continued his early season success over the weekend, finishing 28th in the 3000 meters with a time of 8:27.21, with teammate sophomore Tanner Spence (Carmi, Ill.) placing 68th with a time of 9:11.26.

The VU distance runners packed into the 5000 meter race, led by sophomore Cody Noel (Hebron, Ind.), who finished 34th with a time of 15:42.67.

Sophomore Caden Hostetler (LaGrange, Ind.) and freshmen Lane Connaway (Carmi, Ill.) and Jeremy Mendez (Velpen, Ind.) joined Noel in the 5000 meters, with Hostetler placing 37th at 15:51.41, Connaway taking 39th at 16:15.57 and Mendez finishing 41st overall at 16:31.29.

Freshman Kelvin Kipsang (Kapsabet, Kenya) placed 55th overall in the 800 meters at 2:03.06 and sophomore Nathan Whitehead (Vincennes, Ind.) close out the VU men's track results with an 58th place finish in the mile at 4:39.43.

The Trailblazer men's team was led in the field events by another good showing from freshman Tremayne Brown (Anderson, Ind.) who finished third overall in the high jump after clearing a height of 2.00 meters.

Freshman Chase Guthrie (Indianapolis, Ind.) once again pulled double duty this weekend, placing 17th overall in both the long jump and triple jump events. Guthrie's best distance in the long jump was 6.09 meters and 12.90 meters in the triple jump.

The VU men's team was rounded out on the weekend by sophomore Maliek Bush (Jeffersonville, Ind.) who competed in the heptathlon over the weekend.

Bush placed fifth overall in the event with a total of 4623 points over the seven events.

Bush placed second in the 60 meters at 7.04 seconds, third in the long jump at 6.83 meters, fifth in the high jump (1.89m) and pole vault (3.65m) and placed seventh in the 60 meter hurdles at 8.84 seconds, ninth in the shot put at 10.72 meter and 10th in the 1000 meter with a time of 3:24.53.

"This weekend was one of our most competitive meets of the season," VU Interim Head Track and Field Coach Tyler Steigenga said. "This was a big meet for Maliek as it was his only opportunity to qualify for Nationals in the heptathlon. He got off to a great start on day one with PRs in the 60m and shot put and ended the day right on qualifying pace. Day two started off with a solid 60m hurdles that held his position. In the pole vault, Maliek had very little experience going in. When he had vaulted before in the multi, he was only able to jump over the opening bar. He far surpassed that on day two, hitting the 12 foot mark and jumping four feet higher than ever before."

"This week we were finally able to get our pole vault coach Travis Herb on board and in just that short time, his coaching experience and Maliek's quick learning resulted in a huge improvement," Steigenga added. "The 1000m was the last event and while Maliek didn't do as well as he wanted, he still ended up with a score of 4623, qualifying for nationals and getting the fifth best time in VU history."

"Olamipo continued his streak of PRing in the 200m but this time with an even bigger improvement," Steigenga said. "His time of 21.41 qualified him for the NJCAA Nationals and bested his own school record."

"Nathan also had a huge improvement in the mile," Steigenga added. "He went out much faster than he had before and ended with a nine second PR. Anis equaled his PR and qualifying mark from two weeks ago in the 3000m. The 5000m saw three of four VU runners achieving a PR. Cody ran a very smart and even race and finished two seconds behind his PR from outdoor season last year. Caden ran an eight second PR and Lane ran his first collegiate 5k in a PR as well. Jeremy had a big PR running a 16:31."

"In the 4x400m relay, we were originally using this race to qualify, but Maliek was unable to run," Steigenga added. "Despite that setback, we put together a season best time, with Olamipo anchoring the relay home with a 47 second split. However, Zion was the highlight of the relay with a fantastic 49 second split, which he has never done before. His first few races were rough but he really came through when it matters. Two of our baton exchanges were rough. If we can clean those up and cut a little time off, we could scare the qualifier with this team."

The VU women's track team also looked to pick up some good times on the weekend as the Trailblazers look to continue to add National Qualifiers.

The Trailblazer women's team was led by freshman Alexis Hale (Evansville, Ind.) who placed 30th overall in the 3000 meters with a time of 11:17.57.

Hale was joined by freshman Allie Black (Lynn, Ind.) in the 3000 meter race, where Black finished 38th overall with a time of 12:27.67.

Freshman Zoe Allen (Anderson, Ind.) placed 36th in the 400 meters over the weekend, finishing the race with a time of 1:02.55.

Sophomore Jasmyn Self (Casey, Ill.) placed 44th overall in the 800 meters at 2:32.96 and freshman Sara Belgacem (Tunis Tunisia) and sophomore Adi Fuller (Evansville, Ind.) competed in the mile.

Belgacem placed 54th overall in the event with a time of 5:29.07 and Fuller came away with 56th overall at 5:30.79.

"On the women's side, Zoe took a break from the hurdles and got some work in a longer distance," Steigenga said. "She ran a new PR in the 400 and will play a key part when she runs the distance on our DMR when we attempt to qualify in two weeks."

"Jasmyn ran a fantastic race in the 800m, just a second off her PR," Steigenga added. "She has come a long way in the last year. She is learning to trust herself and push the third lap instead of just waiting to kick. She has a huge breakthrough coming and I'm excited for it."

"In the mile, both Sara and Adi ran a good race," Steigenga said. "Adi barely missed her PR. She had a great last 200m but played it too safe in the middle of the race. Sara's time moved her ahead of Adi on the VU top ten list as they currently sit ninth and 10th respectively."

"Alexis and Allie both ran the 3000m and came away with PRs," Steigenga said. "For Alexis in particular, she had a huge 42 second improvement. She basically ran her high school PR in the mile and then ran it again. Alexis has come a long way since coming to VU and has taken her running to another level."

The Trailblazers will look to build on this weekend of tough competition as they head back to Louisville for the final time this season Friday, Feb. 7 when VU takes part in the Eastern Indoor Collegiate event.

"This was a great meet to test ourselves against some tough competition," Steigenga said. "We added some National Qualifiers and gained some good racing experience. Next week we will return to Louisville for the final time this season. We'll try and add a few more qualifiers, with the 4x800m being the focus for the men and women."

VINCENNES RESULTS

MEN'S RESULTS

200m

Olamipo Ladipo – 12, 21.41

400m

Artezz Butler-Sanders – 42, 52.28

800m

Kelvin Kipsang – 55, 2:03.06

Mile

Nathan Whitehead – 58, 4:39.43

3000m

Anis Abdaoui – 28, 8:27.21

Tanner Spence – 68, 9:11.26

5000m

Cody Noel – 34, 15:42.67

Caden Hostetler – 37, 15:51.41

Lane Connaway – 39, 16:15.57

Jeremy Mendez – 41, 16:31.29

4x400 Relay

Ervin, Pruitt, Ladipo, Butler-Sanders – 14, 3:21.78

High Jump

Tremayne Brown – 3, 2.00m

Long Jump

Chase Guthrie – 17, 6.09m

Triple Jump

Chase Guthrie – 17, 12.90m

Heptathlon

Maliek Bush – 5, 4623 points

1000m – 10, 3:24.53, 444 pts

60m – 2, 7.04, 868 pts

60m Hurdles – 7, 8.84, 781 pts

High Jump – 5, 1.89m, 705 pts

Long Jump – 3, 6.83m, 774 pts

Pole Vault – 5, 3.65m, 522 pts

Shot Put – 9, 10.72m, 529 pts

WOMEN'S RESULTS

400m

Zoe Allen – 36, 1:02.55

800m

Jasmyn Self – 44, 2:32.96

Mile

Sara Belgacem – 54, 5:29.07

Adi Fuller – 56, 5:30.79

3000m

Alexis Hale – 30, 11:17.57

Allie Black – 38, 12:27.67