University of Tennessee Athletics
Record-Breaking Lady Vol Freshmen Headline Day 1 At Florida Relays
April 03, 2026 | Track & Field
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A pair of Lady Vol track & field freshmen set program standards Friday in their respective outdoor season openers at the 2026 Pepsi Florida Relays. Hannah Grace equaled Tennessee's outdoor school record in the women's pole vault, while Mary Nyaboke Ogwoka set the UT freshman record in the women's 1,500-meter run.
Grace earned the win in Gainesville with a lifetime-best clearance of 4.45 meters (14-7.25) in her collegiate debut. The rookie from Wilmington, North Carolina, tied the school record and currently ranks second in both the NCAA outdoor and U20 world rankings for the 2026 season.
Ogwoka closed the evening's action with a victory in the women's invitational 1,500 meters, clocking 4:11.72. The mark lowered her previous personal best by more than four seconds, ranks fourth all-time at Tennessee and sits fifth on the 2026 national list.
Under the direction of assistant coach Jeff Chakouian, the Vols and Lady Vols posted several notable performances in the throwing events Friday. Junior Cedricka Williams opened the meet with a victory in the women's invitational discus, heaving a mark of 56.83m (186-5) that ranks fifth in UT history and fourth in the country this season.
In the men's hammer, sophomores Igor Olaru and Aidan Ifkovits posted personal-best marks to climb the program charts. Olaru earned the win with a throw of 69.88m (229-3), while Ifkovits placed fourth at 63.86m (209-6). The marks rank second and 10th in UT history, respectively, while Olaru's performance ranks seventh in the NCAA this season.
Sophomore Lady Vol Caley Sosnowski closed out Friday's field events with a third-place finish in the javelin, recording a mark of 51.10 meters (167-8) in her season debut. It was her first competition in 364 days after sustaining a season-ending injury on April 4, 2025, and her mark ranks second on the Lady Vol all-time list.
On the track, Lebanese freshman Marc Anthony Ibrahim opened his season in winning fashion in the men's 400-meter hurdles. His time of 49.84 placed first at the meet, ranks fourth in the NCAA this season and eighth in UT history.
Additionally, the Lady Vol 4x100-meter relay quartet of Lauren Jarrett, Dana Wilson, Avia Jones and Maira Scott advanced out of the prelims with a heat victory in 43.75 seconds. The group will compete in the final Saturday at approximately 1:10 p.m. ET.
UP NEXT: Tennessee rounds out the Florida Relays on Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m. with the men's invitational discus and concluding at approximately 6:15 p.m. with the men's 4x400-meter relay.
Grace earned the win in Gainesville with a lifetime-best clearance of 4.45 meters (14-7.25) in her collegiate debut. The rookie from Wilmington, North Carolina, tied the school record and currently ranks second in both the NCAA outdoor and U20 world rankings for the 2026 season.
Ogwoka closed the evening's action with a victory in the women's invitational 1,500 meters, clocking 4:11.72. The mark lowered her previous personal best by more than four seconds, ranks fourth all-time at Tennessee and sits fifth on the 2026 national list.
Under the direction of assistant coach Jeff Chakouian, the Vols and Lady Vols posted several notable performances in the throwing events Friday. Junior Cedricka Williams opened the meet with a victory in the women's invitational discus, heaving a mark of 56.83m (186-5) that ranks fifth in UT history and fourth in the country this season.
In the men's hammer, sophomores Igor Olaru and Aidan Ifkovits posted personal-best marks to climb the program charts. Olaru earned the win with a throw of 69.88m (229-3), while Ifkovits placed fourth at 63.86m (209-6). The marks rank second and 10th in UT history, respectively, while Olaru's performance ranks seventh in the NCAA this season.
Sophomore Lady Vol Caley Sosnowski closed out Friday's field events with a third-place finish in the javelin, recording a mark of 51.10 meters (167-8) in her season debut. It was her first competition in 364 days after sustaining a season-ending injury on April 4, 2025, and her mark ranks second on the Lady Vol all-time list.
On the track, Lebanese freshman Marc Anthony Ibrahim opened his season in winning fashion in the men's 400-meter hurdles. His time of 49.84 placed first at the meet, ranks fourth in the NCAA this season and eighth in UT history.
Additionally, the Lady Vol 4x100-meter relay quartet of Lauren Jarrett, Dana Wilson, Avia Jones and Maira Scott advanced out of the prelims with a heat victory in 43.75 seconds. The group will compete in the final Saturday at approximately 1:10 p.m. ET.
UP NEXT: Tennessee rounds out the Florida Relays on Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m. with the men's invitational discus and concluding at approximately 6:15 p.m. with the men's 4x400-meter relay.
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Sprints
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