University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Wrap Up Florida Relays
April 01, 2017 | Track & Field
Results | PDF Results | Photos
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Tennessee track & field concluded the Florida Relays after posting 13 personal records and eight top-five performances over the three days of competition at James G. Pressly Stadium at Percy Beard Track.
The men's 4x400m team of Nathan Strother, Christian Coleman, Darryl Harris and Ari Cogdell was edged at the line by Florida, but still posted a time of 3:03.65. Florida and Tennessee posted the top two marks in the NCAA so far this season in the 4x400m. The mark ranks as the fourth-fastest time in school history and the fastest since 2002.
"Coming off a long three days at the Florida Relays, I was very pleased with the Vols' performances and efforts across the board," director of track & field/cross country Beth Alford-Sullivan said. "I believe we ended up with 13 personal bests, but what we were looking for is for people to compete and compete up, and for the most part we did that."
Cassie Wertman continued the throwers' success this weekend as she finished second in the women's shot put invitational. The redshirt senior recorded a personal best mark of 17.43m (57-2.25) to finish as the first collegian. That mark ranked as the second-best mark in school history and the second-best mark in the NCAA this year. Stamatia Scarvelis recorded an eighth place finish with a throw of 16.17m (53-0.75) to conclude a busy weekend that saw her break a school record in the hammer throw on Friday.
Matthew Zajac set a personal best on his final throw of the discus competition as he posted a mark of 56.93m (186-9). The throw bested his previous career-best mark, which came last weekend at the Tennessee Rust Buster, as Zajac finished in sixth place in the men's invitational and moved into ninth place on the school's all-time discus chart.
"We got in and competed well, the throws were the early part on Thursday and Friday with the hammer," Alford-Sullivan said. "We got a school record out of Stam (Stamatia Scarvelis), and Cassie (Wertman) backed it up with a great throw in the shot put today. I was excited to see people come in on their last attempts and really punch through to their personal records and competing. Scotty (Matthew Zajac) had his best throw and a personal record on his last throw. Cam Brown came through at the end of the competition. Seth Whitener had his best throw and a personal record on his last throw. There was just good competitive juice coming from our throws. Same type of thing, across the board. We had a really good showing on Friday, even though the conditions were not great with a lot of wind."
The men's sprint medley relay team of Bruce DeGrilla, Darryl Sullivan, Darryl Harris and Zach Long won the second heat with a time of 3:23.42. The foursome placed sixth overall in the competition. DeGrilla and Sullivan each ran a 200m leg, Harris put the team in front on the 400m leg before Long closed the competition with the 800m. Long was leading for most of the race, but fell behind with 250m left, before closing to defeat Maryland over the final 100m of the race.
The men's 4x100m relay squad of Ari Cogdell, Christian Coleman, Malik Elion and Nathan Strother posted a time of 39.63 to finish in 10th overall and as the fourth collegiate team. That time placed Tennessee 13th in the NCAA during the 2017 season.
"I was very, very pleased with how things went; Nate Strother really stepping back into the game, running a great 400m in the open and coming back in both relays today with great legs," Alford-Sullivan said. "We opened up Christian Coleman and he definitely had a good weekend of work in the 4x100 and then on the 4x400 where he had a tremendous split. Just really cool stuff."
The women's 4x100m relay team of Cidae'a Woods, Shania Collins, Lenysse Dyer and Maia McCoy took 11th place as they posted a time of 44.51. The mark ranked in the nation's top-20.
The first relay of the day was the women's shuttle hurdle relay as the squad of Maya Neal, Cidae'a Woods, Brielyn Rogers and LaChyna Roe won their heat, but took seventh place with a time of 59.21.
Tristan Slater notched a 10th place in the pole vault competition as he cleared 4.92m (16-1.75) on his first attempt.
"I am thrilled with the efforts and excited about coming home and competing at home, bringing the element of progressing our competitive nature into these next competitions," Alford-Sullivan said. "Being at home, I think the Vols will represent well. Florida was a great host, Coach Holloway had a great showing as well and it was great to see some of the SEC and some of the nation's best competition this early in the season."
Three prominent #VFLs competed in relays to open up their outdoor season at the Florida Relays. Justin Gatlin competed in both the 4x100m and 4x200m relay teams with Star Athletics. Gatlin's squad took fourth in the 4x100m relay with a time of 38.75. They followed that up with a second place finish in the men's 4x200m relay by posting a time of 1:20.80.
On the women's side #VFLs Tianna Bartoletta (formerly Tianna Madison) and Felicia Brown competed on Saturday. Bartoletta ran with Tumblewood Track Club as the team set a track and Florida Relays record with a mark of 1:28.77 in the 4x200m Relay. That mark was the third-fastest time ever recorded in the 4x200m relay. Bartoletta also took second in the women's 4x100m relay with a mark of 42.57.
Brown ran with Empire Athletics as the team finished in fifth place in the 4x100m relay with a mark of 43.32. Brown's squad was one of four teams to surpass the old 4x200m relay track record with a time of 1:29.86.
Tennessee will return to action next week as the Vols host the Tennessee Relays at Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium from Thursday, April 6- Saturday, April 8.
Thursday's Results
Men's Competitors
200m Open:30. Malik Elion, 21.51 (+2.4)
400m Open: 25. Darryl Harris, 48.71!
Hammer: 1. Seth Whitener, 65.41m (214-7)!; 7. Matthew Zajac, 57.37m (188-2)
Javelin: 25. Nick Hassler, 55.87m (183-4)!
Women's Competitors
200m Open: 16. Maia McCoy, 23.85 (-0.4)!
Friday's Results
Men's Competitors
400m College: 2. Nathan Strother, 45.58; 16. Ari Cogdell, 47.42; 59. Chase Sholl 52.43
1,500m: 9. Zach Long, 3:47.03!
High Jump: 7. Darryl Sullivan, 2.06m (6-9)
Long Jump: 13. Bruce DeGrilla, 7.05m/23-1.75 (-1.6)
Hammer Invite: 8. Cameron Brown, 66.47m (218-1)!
Women's Competitors
100m: 13. Shania Collins, 11.49 (+1.3)!; 27. Maia McCoy, 11.68 (+1.8)!
200m Invite: 5. Shania Collins, 23.12 (+0.4); 6. Lenysse Dyer, 23.42 (+0.4)
400m College: 21. Layla White, 54.39
400m IM Hurdles: 20. Brooklynn Broadwater, 1:00.96
Long Jump Invite: 4. Cidae'a Woods, 5.97m/19-7.0 (+0.7)
Long Jump: Maya Neal, ND
Discus Throw Invite: 8. Stamatia Scarvelis, 51.55m (169-1)
Hammer Throw Invite: 3. Stamatia Scarvelis, 64.86m (212-9)!sr
Hammer Throw: 2. Candice Butler, 59.38m (194-10)!; 25. Savannah Marlow, 51.51m (169-0)
Saturday's Results
Men's Competitors
4x100m Relay: 10. Tennessee (Ari Cogdell, Christian Coleman, Malik Elion, Nathan Strother), 39.63
4x400m Relay: 2. Tennessee (Nathan Strother, Christian Coleman, Darryl Harris, Ari Cogdell), 3:03.65
1,600m Sprint Medley Relay: 6. Tennessee (Bruce DeGrilla, Darryl Sullivan, Darryl Harris, Zach Long), 3:23.42
Pole Vault: 10. Tristan Slater, 4.93m (16-1.75)
Discus Invitational: 6. Matthew Zajac, 56.93m (186-9)!
Women's Competitors
4x100m Relay: 11. Tennessee (Cidae'a Woods, Shania Collins, Lenysse Dyer, Maia McCoy), 44.51
4x200m Relay: 32. Tennessee (Brooklynn Broadwater, Maya Neal, LaChyna Roe, Rebecka Miranda), 1:40.88
4x400m Relay: 7. Tennessee (Lenysse Dyer, Shania Collins, Layla White, Maia McCoy), 3:48.18
4x100m Shuttle Hurdle Relay: 7. Tennessee (Maya Neal, Cidae'a Woods, Brielyn Rogers, LaChyna Roe), 59.21
Triple Jump: 21. Cidae'a Woods, 12.14m/39-10 (+0.0); 26. Brielyn Rogers, 11.71m/38-5 (+1.7)
Shot Put Invite: 2. Cassie Wertman, 17.43m (57-2.25)!; 7. Stamatia Scarvelis, 16.17m (53-0.75)
