University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Meyo Invitational
Brooke Dixon Sets Freshman Record at Doc Hale Elite Meet
February 05, 2022 | Track & Field
BLACKSBURG, Va. – Lady Vol Brooke Dixon broke the Tennessee freshman record in the women's indoor mile Saturday at Virginia Tech's Doc Hale Elite Meet at Rector Field House.
Dixon placed first in the mile as she crossed the line in 4:44.81 en route to setting the freshman record. Her time broke the previous rookie record of 4:46.17 set by Sarah Bowman in 2005.
"We were very confident in Brooke, seeing what she has been doing in training," director of track & field/cross country Beth Alford-Sullivan said. "We felt she could put herself in position to get that record and then she just crushed it. She did a great job and she's got a lot more to come in her future. Just very proud of her today."
Olivia Janke and Kayla Gholar also ran the mile at Doc Hale with Janke placing second behind her teammate in 4:49.47. Gholar finished 11th overall in 4:57.32, setting a personal best in the indoor mile.
In the men's mile, Riley Buchholz placed sixth at 4:08.40 as he set a personal best time.
Competing in the pole vault Saturday, Sara Borton threw down a personal-best height of 4.09m (13-5). Her mark moves her to sixth all-time on the Lady Vols' indoor top-10 list.
Hannah Jefcoat was also in competition in the pole vault at Doc Hale, putting up the same mark as Borton at 4.09m (13-5). Her height is a season-best.
"We had a good weekend," Alford-Sullivan said. "I am proud of our entire Virginia Tech crew. We had a lot of personal bests. We saw some great pole vaulting yesterday and today and great hurdles from the men's multi-group on Friday. Everything we brought up there was solid and they all got some great experience."
MEYO INVITATIONAL
A pair of Tennessee student-athletes – Katie Thronson and Tim Thacker – ran the mile at Notre Dame's Meyo Invitational Saturday afternoon.
Thacker posted a time of 4:02.79, just off the school-record mark of 4:02.4 set by John Wright. Thacker's time is the second-quickest indoor mile in Vols history. The Knoxville native placed sixth overall in the race.
For the Lady Vols, Thronson crossed the line third in 4:39.35. Her time is a personal best and is the third-fastest indoor mile in Lady Vol history.
"We had two great runs here at Notre Dame," Alford-Sullivan said. "It is quite the feather in the cap to run in the Meyo Mile seeded heats and both Kaite and Tim earned that opportunity. We saw another big PB from Katie and she got after the leaders, I'm just so proud of her today.
"And then Tim Thacker in the men's race, an NAIA guy running against some of the best athletes in the country. He gave his best effort and is No. 2 all-time in our record books and will certainly have his sights set on breaking that record."
PR TRACKER
Sara Borton – Women's Pole Vault – 4.09m (13-5) – No. 6 in School History
Katie Thronson – Women's Mile – 4:39.35 – No. 3 in School History
Brooke Dixon – Women's Mile – 4:44.81 – Freshman Record
Kayla Gholar – Women's Mile – 4:57.32
Tim Thacker – Men's Mile – 4:02.79 – No. 2 in School History
Riley Buchholz – Men's Mile – 4:08.40
UP NEXT
Tennessee will split the team next weekend as it travels to Nashville for the Music City Invitational and Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the Tyson Invite. Both meets run Friday and Saturday, February 11 and 12.
Players Mentioned
