Kay Downs Program Record Friday Night At Hokie Invite

KNOXVILLE, TN - 2021.01.07 - Track and Field Photo Day

Photo by: Caleb Jones/Tennessee Athletics

January 22, 2021 | Track & Field

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Tennessee sophomore Alex Kay clocked the fastest indoor 1,000-meter run in program history Friday night, as the Ocala, Florida, native took down a 29-year-old school record with his time of 2:23.91 at the Hokie Invitational.

Kay's performance moved him from No. 6 to No. 1 on Tennessee's all-time top 10 list in the event. Additionally, Joe Hoots (2:25.83) and Kameron Helmlinger (2:27.42) each placed themselves in the program's top-10 at No. 4 and No. 8, respectively, with their performances on Friday night.

TATE GRABS NCAA LEAD: The No. 1 triple jumper in the NCAA so far this season resides on Rocky Top, as UT senior Jalen Tate posted a personal-best leap of 16.38 meters (53-9) for the win at Virginia Tech. The Clarksville native took over the national lead by three centimeters and moved himself up to No. 5 on Tennessee's all-time top-10 list, recording the mark twice in his six-round series Friday night.

HAYDEN HEAVES IMPRESSIVE PR: Lady Vol sophomore thrower Chandler Hayden logged a top-10 program mark of her own Friday night, launching the 20-pound weight 20.26 meters (66-5.75) for a new personal-best. Her performance ranks No. 3 in Tennessee history and was good for second place at the meet.

ORANGE ON THE 60-METER PODIUM: Tennessee had top-3 finishes in both the men's and women's 60-meter dashes Friday night from a pair of international student-athletes. Kingston, Jamaica, native Carey McLeod made his season debut with a personal-best time of 6.78 seconds for third place on the men's side, while Joella Lloyd from St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda, turned in a time of 7.36 to finish second for the Lady Vols.

MULTIS OPEN UP: Tennessee's combined events group debuted Friday afternoon in both the men's heptathlon and women's pentathlon.

On the women's side, senior Kiara Rhodes placed third overall with a total of 3,765 points, while Skyler Reynolds (8th, 3,264) and Caroline Lewis (9th, 2,865) competed in the pentathlon for the first time as Lady Vols.

Through day one of the men's heptathlon at Virginia Tech, Vol freshman Ethan Robinson stands fourth with a team-high 2,772 points. Tennessee sophomores Peyton Davis (2,673) and Yariel Soto (2,256) currently rank 8th and 12th at the meet, respectively, with three events remaining for Saturday.

PR TRACKER: 13 Tennessee athletes combined for a total of 15 indoor personal records Friday at the Hokie Invitational.

Carey McLeod - Men's 60m - 6.78
Ethan Robinson - Men's 60m - 7.08
Alex Kay - Men's 1,000m - 2:23.91
Joe Hoots - Men's 1,000m - 2:25.83
Kameron Helmlinger - Men's 1,000m - 2:27.42
Canaan Anderson - Men's 3,000m - 8:36.85
Spencer Brown - Men's 60m Hurdles - 8.22
Ethan Robinson - Men's High Jump - 1.87m (6-1.5)
Ethan Robinson - Men's Long Jump - 6.55m (21-6)
Jalen Tate - Men's Triple Jump - 16.38m (53-9)
Chance Crawford - Men's Weight Throw - 16.83m (55-2.75)
Erin Spreen - Women's Mile - 5:13.00
Mikele Vickers - Women's Triple Jump - 11.84m (38-10.25)
Kiara Rhodes - Women's Shot Put - 10.40m (34-1.5)
Chandler Hayden - Women's Weight Throw - 20.26m (66-5.75)

BIG ORANGE DEBUTS: Seven student-athletes made their official Tennessee track & field debuts on Friday: Fuji Anday (men's 3,000m, 9:00.02), Canaan Anderson (men's 3,000m, 8:36.85), Elliot Barner (men's triple jump, 13.82m), Ainsley Cooper (women's mile, 5:25.68), Avery Jackson (women's 3,000m, 10:48.47), Caroline Lewis (women's pentathlon, 2,865) and Allison Rand (women's 600m, 1:38.33).

UP NEXT: The Hokie Invitational will wrap up Saturday with Tennessee multis, jumpers, throwers, sprinters and distance runners in action at the Rector Field House. Competition begins at 9:30 a.m. with the men's heptathlon 60m hurdles and concludes at 3:55 p.m. with the men's 4x400-meter relay.

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