Sullivan Jumps SEC Record, World Lead Saturday At Virginia Tech Invite

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Tennessee senior captain Darryl Sullivan posted a historic performance for the Vols' track and field program Saturday afternoon at the Virginia Tech Invitational, clearing 2.33m (7-7.75) in the men's high jump.

The mark tied the all-time Southeastern Conference indoor record and vaulted Sullivan to No. 4 on the NCAA track & field all-time indoor performance list. It was also good for the world lead for the 2019-20 indoor season and topped the previous Tennessee school record of 2.31m (7-7), held by three-time NCAA champion Randy Jenkins.

A native of Marion, Illinois, Sullivan also equaled the 2020 Olympic qualifying standard and broke the facility record at Virginia Tech's Rector Field House with his performance on Saturday.

"Darryl Sullivan obviously stole the show," Tennessee director of track & field Beth Alford-Sullivan said following the meet. "There are moments where you see someone achieve that will stay in my heart forever. This was one of them.

"His journey has been one of trials and successes, but today defined what it means to be on a mission. I am so proud to be a part of his journey, that has so much still ahead of him. Congrats to [associate head coach Travis Geopfert] on having him prepared. This was an amazing school record for the Vols."

Beyond Sullivan's standout performance, Tennessee totaled four event victories, 13 top-three finishes and 13 indoor personal records Saturday afternoon. Read below for more highlights from the Virginia Tech Invitational.

MAINES TAKES NCAA LEAD: Competing for the second time as a Lady Vol, junior thrower Latavia Maines launched a personal-best distance of 17.23m (56-6.5) in the women's shot put for a first-place finish at Virginia Tech. The mark is the best in the NCAA by 15 centimeters this season and moves Maines to No. 4 on UT's all-time top 10 list.

LADY VOLS DOMINATE 400m: In the first track event of the day, Tennessee grabbed the top-3 spots in the women's 400m dash for the team's second podium sweep of the weekend. Britton Wilson (54.14), Brooklynn Broadwater (54.56) and Vanessa Watson (56.24) placed first, second and third for the Big Orange respectively.

RILEY ON A WINNING STREAK: Anthony Riley earned his second-straight victory in the men's long jump for Tennessee on Saturday, jumping a new PR of 7.37m (24-2.25). The mark ranks seventh in the SEC and No. 24 in the NCAA this season.

BYNUM RUNS PR, SEC LEAD: Tennessee freshman sprinter Emmanuel Bynum ran the fastest men's 400m dash in the SEC this season, taking second at Virginia Tech with a time of 47.20. The mark was a new indoor personal-best for Bynum and just 0.15 seconds away from breaking the UT freshman record.

PODIUM PUSH: Additional top-3 finishers for Tennessee on Saturday are listed below.

Nicole Adams, Emily Knight, Emma Dilullo, Katie Thronson - Women's DMR - 3. 11:45.58
Andrew Ference - Men's Pole Vault - 2. 5.15m (16-10.75)
Prom'Myse Hoosier - Women's Long Jump - 3. 6.01m (19-8.75)
Joella Lloyd - Women's 200m - 3. 24.32
Joseph Maxwell - Men's Shot Put - 2. 19.02m (62-5)
Tristan Slater - Men's Pole Vault - 3. 5.05m (16-6.75)

JEFCOAT REACHES NEW HEIGHTS: Team captain Hannah Jefcoat entered the NCAA top-10 this season in the women's pole vault, clearing a bar of 4.21m (13-9.75) for the No. 7 mark nationally. It was a new lifetime-best for Jefcoat, whose performance ranks third in program history behind Linda Hadfield (4.24m) and Kristen Denk (4.22m).

#PRTRACKER: Tennessee athletes combined to break or tie 13 indoor personal records on Saturday at the Virginia Tech Invitational.

Jada Chambers - Women's 200m - 24.40
Hannah Jefcoat - Women's Pole Vault - 4.21m (13-9.75)
Danielle Shipp - Women's High Jump - 1.67m (5-5.75)
Kiara Rhodes - Women's High Jump - 1.67m (5-5.75)
Kiara Rhodes - Women's Long Jump - 5.89m (19-4)
Latavia Maines - Women's Shot Put - 17.23 (56-6.5)
Emmanuel Bynum - Men's 400m - 47.20
Rasheeme Griffith - Men's 400m - 48.70
Max Barbour - Men's 5,000m - 14:54.79
Andrew Ference - Men's Pole Vault - 5.15m (16-10.75)
Darryl Sullivan - Men's High Jump - 2.33m (7-7.75)
Anthony Riley - Men's Long Jump - 7.37m (24-2.25)
Eric Parker - Men's Long Jump - 6.46m (21-2.5)

FINAL WORDS FROM COACH SULLIVAN: "The Vols and Lady Vols came together for a great weekend of competition here in Blacksburg. Overall, we had a tremendous meet with lots of great results across the board. I am proud of the young team that is showing up to compete."

UP NEXT: Tennessee will take a two-week break from competition before heading to Lubbock, Texas for the Texas Tech Invitational. The three day meet will run Thursday, January 30 through Saturday, February 1 at the Sports Performance Center.

For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee track & field, follow @Vol_Track on Twitter.

University of Tennessee Athletics

Sullivan Jumps SEC Record, World Lead Saturday At Virginia Tech Invite

Players Mentioned

Nicole Adams

Max Barbour

Brooklynn Broadwater

Emmanuel Bynum

Jada Chambers

Emma Dilullo

Andrew Ference

Rasheeme Griffith

Prom'Myse Hoosier

Hannah Jefcoat

Emily Knight

Joella Lloyd

Latavia Maines

Joseph Maxwell

Eric Parker

Kiara Rhodes

Anthony Riley

Danielle Shipp

Tristan Slater

Darryl Sullivan

Katie Thronson

Vanessa Watson

Britton Wilson

Related Videos