Schmitt, Douglas Post Record-Breaking Performances At Orange & Purple Invite

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Lady Vol track & field squad saw a pair of program records go down on Friday as Tennessee began competition at the Orange & Purple Invite inside Clemson's Indoor Track & Field Complex. Senior Sarah Schmitt shattered the school record in the women's pole vault, while Donna Douglas broke the Lady Vol freshman record in the women's weight throw.

Individual notes and personal records from Friday's action at Clemson are highlighted below. Tennessee concludes the meet Saturday competing in 11 events, beginning at 10 a.m. with the women's shot put and concluding at approximately 4:15 p.m. with the men's 4x400-meter relay.

Individual Notables

Senior pole vaulter Sarah Schmitt had a phenomenal series on her way to breaking the school record, clearing five consecutive heights on five consecutive jumps on the way to a mark of 4.36m (14-3.5). The performance topped Hannah Jefcoat's previous program standard of 4.34m (14-2.75) set during the 2021 indoor season.
Schmitt's performance on Friday ranks second in the SEC and ninth in the NCAA this season.
Sophomore pole vaulter Kendall Ford tallied another lifetime-best with a clearance of 4.02m (13-2.25) to finish tied for third at the meet, equaling her mark as the No. 9 performer history.
Rookie throwing standout Donna Douglas made history in Friday's weight throw competition, setting a personal best of 19.82m (65-0.5) to take down the Lady Vol freshman record in the event – previously set by Chandler Hayden (19.61m/64-4) in 2020. Douglas now ranks sixth in the SEC this season and own the top mark in the country by a true freshman.
Tennessee's sprinting corps was at its strongest in the semifinal rounds of the 60-meter dash and 60-meter hurdles on Friday. Javonte' Harding and Davonte Howell each clocked season-best marks of 6.64 and 6.66 in the 60-meter dash, respectively, with the former being a personal best for the Vol graduate. In the women's 60-meter hurdles, the Lady Vol trio was paced by Myreanna Bebe (8.09) – while Layla Anderson (8.15) and Kiara Smith (8.23) each notched season-best performances. Sophomore Kalib Branch capped the impressive stretch with a PR of 7.83 in the men's 60-meter hurdles, just two hundredths of a second from cracking the program's all-time top 10 list.
Former Lady Vol Jacious Sears made her professional debut in Friday's 60-meter dash, posting the top time in the semifinal with a mark of 7.15 seconds. Her time meets the World Indoor Championship standard for 2025 and currently ranks fourth on the 2024 world list.

PR Tracker

Tennessee athletes combined to break or tie 11 indoor personal records on Friday at the Orange & Purple Invitational.
- Javonte' Harding – Men's 60m – 6.64
- Luke Mussard – Men's Mile – 4:09.73
- Brody Chapman – Men's Mile – 4:10.93
- Thomas Rice – Men's Mile – 4:11.25
- Kalib Branch – Men's 60m Hurdles – 7.83
- Cydney Wright – Women's 400m – 53.41
- Jaylee Wingate – Women's Mile – 4:56.41
- Savannah Rivera – Women's Mile – 4:59.74
- Sarah Schmitt – Women's Pole Vault – 4.36m (14-3.5)
- Kendall Ford – Women's Pole Vault – 4.02m (13-2.25)
- Donna Douglas – Women's Weight Throw – 19.82m (65-0.5)

University of Tennessee Athletics

Schmitt, Douglas Post Record-Breaking Performances At Orange & Purple Invite

Players Mentioned

Layla Anderson

Myreanna Bebe

Kalib Branch

Brody Chapman

Donna Douglas

Kendall Ford

Javonte' Harding

Davonte Howell

Luke Mussard

Thomas Rice

Savannah Rivera

Sarah Schmitt

Jacious Sears

Kiara Smith

Jaylee Wingate

Cydney Wright

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