University of Tennessee Athletics
Photo by: Kyndall Williams/Tennessee Athletics
Ducos’ Collegiate Lead Headlines Opening Night of Tennessee Invite
April 05, 2024 | Track & Field
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee graduate student Clement Ducos showed out on the home track Friday night in the 400-meter hurdles, establishing a new lifetime-best mark of 49.03 seconds in his first hurdle race of the season. His time set a new collegiate lead for 2024, ranks third on the 2024 World Athletics Top List and No. 3 on the Tennessee all-time charts.
Running alongside Ducos was his teammate Ja'Kwan Hale, who took second in the event with a time of 50.16 seconds. His mark ranks sixth on the NCAA Division I list and top 20 in the world this outdoor season.
Ducos' performance highlighted five first-place finishes for the Big Orange on Friday as Tennessee opened competition at its annual home meet, the Tennessee Invite. Additionally, a pair of UT field athletes finished as the top collegians in their respective events.
Junior distance runner Christopher Cherry secured UT's first victory of the night in the men's 1,500-meter, stopping the clock at 3:44.26 for a new personal-best. He was trailed by fellow Vol Canaan Anderson who finished second in the event with a time of 3:45.97 in his 1,500-meter opener.
The Lady Vols dominated the 200-meter competition with a 1-2-3-4 finish in the fastest heat of the night. Senior sprinter Kayla Sweeney got the win in a season-best 23.85 seconds, followed by Kyla Robinson-Hubbard (23.87), Layla Anderson (23.90) and Kiara Smith (24.13) to round out the Tennessee sweep.
UT also grabbed the top two spot in the men's 200-meter, with senior Javonte' Harding taking home the title with a time of 20.76 seconds. Sophomore Aaron Bell took second overall with his mark of 21.28.
The Big Orange brought a 1-2 punch to the women's 5k from a pair of freshman Lady Vols, led by Summer Schuster who crossed the line in a personal-best 17:03.79. She was immediately followed by rookie Lauren Rutlin who posted a time of 17:04.05 in her collegiate debut.
In the women's pole vault competition, Sarah Schmitt led four Lady Vols in the event with a PR-tying clearance of 4.15 meters (13-7.25). She finished as the top collegiate athlete and second overall on Friday, and her mark equaled the No. 5 performance in school history.
Freshman javelin specialist Kevin Burr Jr. closed out the night as the top collegian at the Tennessee Invite, heaving the spear 67.27 meters (220-8) in the third round. His mark topped all other collegiate athletes in the field by more than 24 feet.
PR TRACKER: Tennessee athletes combined for six outdoor personal records on Friday at the Tennessee Invite.
UP NEXT: The home meet wraps up Saturday at Tom Black Track. Action continues for the Vols at noon with the men's high jump and women's 100-meter hurdles semifinal, and the competition will conclude at approximately 4:45 p.m. with the men's 4x400-meter relay.
Running alongside Ducos was his teammate Ja'Kwan Hale, who took second in the event with a time of 50.16 seconds. His mark ranks sixth on the NCAA Division I list and top 20 in the world this outdoor season.
Ducos' performance highlighted five first-place finishes for the Big Orange on Friday as Tennessee opened competition at its annual home meet, the Tennessee Invite. Additionally, a pair of UT field athletes finished as the top collegians in their respective events.
Junior distance runner Christopher Cherry secured UT's first victory of the night in the men's 1,500-meter, stopping the clock at 3:44.26 for a new personal-best. He was trailed by fellow Vol Canaan Anderson who finished second in the event with a time of 3:45.97 in his 1,500-meter opener.
The Lady Vols dominated the 200-meter competition with a 1-2-3-4 finish in the fastest heat of the night. Senior sprinter Kayla Sweeney got the win in a season-best 23.85 seconds, followed by Kyla Robinson-Hubbard (23.87), Layla Anderson (23.90) and Kiara Smith (24.13) to round out the Tennessee sweep.
UT also grabbed the top two spot in the men's 200-meter, with senior Javonte' Harding taking home the title with a time of 20.76 seconds. Sophomore Aaron Bell took second overall with his mark of 21.28.
The Big Orange brought a 1-2 punch to the women's 5k from a pair of freshman Lady Vols, led by Summer Schuster who crossed the line in a personal-best 17:03.79. She was immediately followed by rookie Lauren Rutlin who posted a time of 17:04.05 in her collegiate debut.
In the women's pole vault competition, Sarah Schmitt led four Lady Vols in the event with a PR-tying clearance of 4.15 meters (13-7.25). She finished as the top collegiate athlete and second overall on Friday, and her mark equaled the No. 5 performance in school history.
Freshman javelin specialist Kevin Burr Jr. closed out the night as the top collegian at the Tennessee Invite, heaving the spear 67.27 meters (220-8) in the third round. His mark topped all other collegiate athletes in the field by more than 24 feet.
PR TRACKER: Tennessee athletes combined for six outdoor personal records on Friday at the Tennessee Invite.
- Kiara Smith – Women's 200m – 24.13
- Jaylee Wingate – Women's 1,500m – 4:42.61
- Christopher Cherry – Women's 1,500m – 3:44.26
- Summer Schuster – Women's 5,000m – 17:03.79
- Clement Ducos – Men's 400m Hurdles – 49.03
- Sarah Schmitt – Women's Pole Vault – 4.15m (13-7.25)
UP NEXT: The home meet wraps up Saturday at Tom Black Track. Action continues for the Vols at noon with the men's high jump and women's 100-meter hurdles semifinal, and the competition will conclude at approximately 4:45 p.m. with the men's 4x400-meter relay.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Hurdles/Sprints
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & FieldEverything Orange S2 | Sarah Schmitt (Track & Field)
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Track & Field | 400m Hurdles Feature
Wednesday, May 22
Track & Field | Tennessee Invite Recap
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Track & Field | Battle on the Bayou Recap
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