University of Tennessee Athletics
UT Splashes To Four Victories
April 16, 2011 | Women's Track
April 15, 2011
Sea Ray Relays Friday Notes-Records 
By Eric Trainer, Associate Director of Media Relations
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- A pleasant day gave way to heavy showers Friday at the 45th-annual Sea Ray Relays. Come rain or shine, Tennessee found a way to secure four victories and a pair of runner-up finishes at soaking-wet Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium.
Juniors Ellen Wortham and Chanelle Price, and senior Liz Costello weathered the conditions to ring up wins for the Lady Vols, while senior Peter Sigilai beat a path through the puddles to win the men's 1500m run for the Vols. UT sophomore Jessie Harrison chipped in a runner-up outing in the open women's discus, while redshirt freshman Chase Brannon rustled up a second-place showing in the open men's pole vault for the home team on day three.
A graduate of Maryville High School, Wortham entered the meet undefeated this season in the 400m hurdles, and she kept it that way, winning her second straight Sea Ray Relays title in that event. Ranked No. 2 in the NCAA and No. 7 in the world this season with a best of 56.62 seconds, Wortham didn't hit that mark on Friday, but her 57.48 effort was good enough to win by more than two seconds. The All-American's power and endurance over the final 150 meters proved the difference over Tulane's Zandria Bowles (59.70). UT teammate and Austin-East product Bianca Blair finished fifth in 1:01.60.
Earlier in the day, Wortham won her heat and placed fifth overall in the 100m hurdles in a career-best 13.76. Former Lady Vol All-American and two-time Sea Rays champ Celriece Law was third in 13.41. Wortham will be back on Saturday to aid the UT relay cause and could appear in the shuttle hurdle relay, 4x100m relay and possibly other events.
"Ellen continued her domination in the 400 hurdles and looked really, really good," UT Director of Track & Field J.J. Clark said. "Ellen and coach (Sharon) Seagrave have done a tremendous job in her hurdling technique. I can see big improvements in the short and long hurdles, and as she continues cleaning up her technique, her times will get faster and faster."
Price, meanwhile, made her season debut in the 800 meters and completed her first open 800 race outdoors since August of 2009, winning in 2:06.90. The All-American Lady Vol junior out-kicked post-collegiate runner Heidi Dahl of Knoxville Elite down the home stretch to claim Tennessee's first women's 800 triumph at this meet since Rose-Anne Galligan in 2007. Rookie teammate Kianna Ruff wound up fifth in 2:10.44.
"Chanelle, in bad conditions, had a good finish and out-ran one of the top runners in America," Clark said. That was a solid effort by her, and I was happy to see her finish well today."
In the men's 1500 meters, Sigilai hit the tape first for the Vols, making the trip in a season-best readout of 3:50.77. Redshirt freshman Jordan Chaney, another Maryville graduate, ran with Sigilai for part of the race and crossed the line fifth via a personal-best 3:54.10 showing. Sigilai's time ranks him sixth in the SEC this season.
"Peter winning today in bad conditions was good to see," Clark said. "He showed good leg speed at the end, finishing that 1500m. He obviously would liked to have run faster, but when you win you are moving in the right direction."
Costello was Tennessee's final victor of the soggy day. After setting the school 10,000m record two weekends ago at UCLA, the transfer from Princeton navigated her first outdoor 5K as a Lady Vol in 16:12.30. That mark stands No. 7 in the NCAA this season and the ninth-best ever by a UT woman.
"Liz ran 16:12 on pretty much a solo effort when it was pouring down rain," Clark said. "That was a good effort by her."
Redshirt freshman Chase Brannon cranked out a personal-best clearance of 16-6 3/4 to snare a runner-up effort in the open men's pole vault before the weather completely deteriorated. True freshman Tyler Porter earned a tie for third by sailing over 16-0 3/4.
In the open division of the women's discus, sophomore Jessie Harrison produced a career-best throw. Her measurement of 153 feet even was far enough to earn her runner-up honors. South Florida's Lauren Noe edged her by two inches with a mark of 153-2.
"The pole vault was another positive moment for our team," Clark said. "Jessie had a good PR in the discus as well. Overall, the conditions weren't good, but we were able to come out with these and some other solid performances and positive results."
Varick Tucker was the fastest of three Vols in the men's 400m dash. The junior covered the distance in a career-best 47.37 to nab third. Redshirt freshman Dentarius Locke, a redshirt freshman who was not expected to run at this meet due to a slight hamstring strain, got some work in the 400, crossing the line in 47.61 to place fifth in a development that impressed Clark.
Brittany Sheffey also checked in third in her event, the invitational women's 1500 meters. The junior was just off her two-week-old career best with a 4:23.47 report. Former Lady Vol star Phoebe Wright posted the top time by an American woman this outdoor season, cruising to her second straight meet title at that distance in 4:13.84 to the delight of her coach, Clark.
Sophomore Martinique Octave carded a fourth-place finish in the 400-meter dash, circling the oval in 54.54 to match the personal record she set at the UT-UCLA Dual two weekends ago. Former Lady Vol DeeDee Trotter, a two-time Olympian and 2004 gold medalist, won the event for the second straight season. Her time was 52.65. She also captured the 200m crown in 23.63.
Elsewhere, freshman Jarael Nelvis was fifth in the men's 100m dash in 10.68, freshman Jake Rainey was sixth in the men's 5000m in 14:51.66, Minor Bowens was sixth in the men's open discus at 144-7 and Octave was sixth in the women's 200m dash in 24.01.
FRIDAY TENNESSEE RESULTS AT THE SEA RAY RELAYSLady Volunteers
400m Hurdles: 1. Ellen Wortham, 57.48; 5. Bianca Blair, 1:01.60; 9. Jená Murphy, 1:02.04!; 16. Kirstyn Sweeney, 1:03.56!
Invitational 800m: 1. Chanelle Price, 2:06.90; 5. Kianna Ruff, 2:10.44; 6. Ramzee Fondren, 2:10.94; 9. Brittney Jackson, 2:12.29; 23. Ty-Vonna Johnson, 2:18.77; 26. Kim White, 2:20.23
5000m: 1. Liz Costello, 16:12.30!; 8. Elizabeth Tiller, 19:25.14
Open Discus: 2. Jessie Harrison, 153-0/46.64m!
1500m: 3. Brittany Sheffey, 4:23.47; 12. Amber Zimmerman, 4:41.92!; 15. Elizabeth Altizer, 4:44.81!; 19. Kelsey Kane, 4:54.21; 23. Nijgia Snapp, 5:12.06
400m Dash: 4. Martinique Octave, 54.54!
100m Hurdles: 5. Ellen Wortham, 13.76!/1st, ht. 2 (w: 0.7); 8. Bianca Blair, 14.28/1st, ht. 3 (w: -0.8); 15. Jená Murphy, 14.67!/1st, ht. 4 (w: 0.3); 27. 15.49/5th, ht. 4 (w: 0.3)
200m Dash: 6. Martinique Octave, 24.01! (w: 0.4); 7. Kia Jackson, 24.02! (w: 0.3); 10. Brittany Jones, 24.18 (w: 0.4); 15. Ashley Harris, 24.34 (w: 1.1); 54. Jasmen Townsend, 25.95 (w: -0.5)
100m Dash: 7. Kia Jackson, 11.83 (w: 0.8); 15. Ashley Harris, 12.05 (w: -0.5); 17. Brittany Jones, 12.07 (w: -0.6)
Pole Vault: 12. Linda Hadfield, 11-5.75/3.50m
Triple Jump: Results not available due to the weather
Unseeded 800m: 5. Chelsea Knotts, 2:24.25
Unseeded 1500m: 7. Andrea Ferri, 5:07.01
1500m: 1. Peter Sigilai, 3:50.77; 5. Jordan Chaney, 3:54.10!; 7. Eric Ryan, 3:55.17; 11. Chris Bodary, 3:56.90!; 14. Chris Rapp, 3:58.85; 22. David Clabo, 4:10.10; 23. Scott March, 4:10.50; DNF - Michael Spooner
Open Pole Vault: 2. Chase Brannon, 16-6.75/5.05m!; 3. Tyler Porter, 16-0.75/4.90m
400m Dash: 3. Varick Tucker, 47.37!; 5. Dentarius Locke, 47.61!; 6. Deaundra Dailey, 48.36
100m Dash: 5. Jarael Nelvis, 10.68 (w: 1.7); 30. Reggie Juin, 11.25 (w: 0.3); 36. Keith Thomas, 11.34! (w: -0.1); 40. Joachim De Bock,11.56 (w: 0.3)
5000m: 6. Jake Rainey, 14:51.66; 10. Tyler Freeman, 15:07.60
Open Discus: 6. Minor Bowens, 144-7/44.07m
110m Hurdles: 7. Terry Benson, 14.28! (w: 1.2)
400m Hurdles: 8. Terry Benson, 52.54; 22. Matt Bergquist, 55.30
200m Dash: 10. Nathan Grace, 21.81 (w: 1.3); 18. Deaundra Dailey, 22.03 (w: 0.3); 22. Reggie Juin, 22.22 (w: 1.3); 30. Keith Thomas, 22.78! (w: 0.2); 31. Joachim De Bock, 22.78 (w: -0.2)
Invitational 800m: 21. Ford Bell, 1:56.03; 22. Breon Dixon, 1:56.27
Lady Volunteers
Hammer Throw: 5. Jessie Harrison, 176-9/53.88m; 6. Laquoya Kelly, 170-5/51.94m
VolunteersN/A
! - personal record, DNF - did not finish, DQ - disqualified, F - foul, fr - facility record, FS - false start, h - heat, m - meters, mr - meet record, NM - no mark registered, NH - no height registered, p - preliminary round, sr - school record, w - wind-aided
