Photo by: Cayce Smith/Tennessee Athletics
Lady Vols Close Out Vanderbilt Invite With Four Additional Event Titles
January 18, 2025 | Track & Field
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee track & field wrapped up the Vanderbilt Invitational with four more event victories on Saturday, taking first place in the women's 60-meter dash, women's 60-meter hurdles, women's pole vault and women's shot put to conclude a successful weekend inside the Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility.
The Big Orange also had a pair of standout performances in the men's 60-meter dash from two unattached Vol sprinters. Most notably, Traunard Folson won the event final in 6.53 seconds – a top-five performance in the world this season in his first collegiate meet since joining the UT sprint program this past fall.
Notable performances from Saturday in Nashville are highlighted below. The Vols and Lady Vols return to action next week with a trip to Clemson, South Carolina, for the Orange & Purple Invite – set for Friday and Saturday, Jan. 24-25.
Men's Notables
The Big Orange also had a pair of standout performances in the men's 60-meter dash from two unattached Vol sprinters. Most notably, Traunard Folson won the event final in 6.53 seconds – a top-five performance in the world this season in his first collegiate meet since joining the UT sprint program this past fall.
Notable performances from Saturday in Nashville are highlighted below. The Vols and Lady Vols return to action next week with a trip to Clemson, South Carolina, for the Orange & Purple Invite – set for Friday and Saturday, Jan. 24-25.
Men's Notables
- A pair of underclassmen Tennessee hurdlers notched personal-best performances on Saturday. Sophomore Kalib Branch clocked in at 7.84 in the prelims, while true freshman Broderick Davis posted a PR of 7.92 in the event final.
- Four of five Vols competing in the men's 400-meter dash won their heats, led by sophomore Christian Parker's time of 47.23 that finished third overall in the event. Avaunt Ortiz (47.68), Shamar Heard (47.77) and Rickey Williams III (48.03) also earned heat victories in the men's quarter-mile.
- Tennessee's strongest performance of the day on the men's side came from a pair of unattached sprinters in the men's 60-meter dash. Vol junior Traunard Folson won the final with a lifetime-best mark of 6.53 seconds, which ranks as a top-five performance in the world this season. Had he been competing attached, his time would have ranked fourth in school history – notably ahead of Olympic champion Justin Gatlin's 6.54 college-best performance in 2002.
- Graduate student Deron Dudley also had a strong showing in the men's 60-meter while competing unattached, clocking a PR of 6.63 in the prelims before placing third in the final with a time of 6.64.
- Lady Vol senior Kiara Smith was dominant in the women's 60-meter hurdles, posting a season-best time of 8.25 seconds for the top performance in prelims before winning the final outright in 8.26. The Lancaster, Texas, native ranks 20th on the NCAA Division I list for 2024-25.
- Tennessee was equally impressive in the women's 60-meter dash final with a wire-to-wire victory from Lady Vol senior Milan Fields. The Charlotte, North Carolina, product turned in a lifetime-best 7.26 to win the meet and was followed by sophomore Nigerian Elo Blessing Okpah who placed second in a PR of 7.40 seconds.
- Freshman field standouts Mya Strahm and Donna Douglas rounded out the meet with event crowns in the women's pole vault and shot put, respectively. Strahm cleared 4.12m (13-6.25) to earn her first collegiate win, while Douglas launched a personal-best mark of 15.48m (50-9.5) to move up to No. 9 in UT history indoors.
- Additionally, three Lady Vol pole vaulters – Ellison Colarossi, Caroline Weems and Kendall Ford – posted personal-best clearances of 4.02m (13-2.25) to equal the No. 9 performer in school history indoors.
- Tennessee athletes combined to record 13 indoor personal records on Saturday at the Vanderbilt Invitational.
- Traunard Folson (unattached) – Men's 60m – 6.53
- Deron Dudley (unattached) – Men's 60m – 6.63
- Kalib Branch – Men's 60m Hurdles – 7.84
- Broderick Davis – Men's 60m Hurdles – 7.92
- Jakob Alperin – Men's Shot Put – 16.18m / 53-1
- Milan Fields – Women's 60m – 7.26
- Elo Blessing Okpah – Women's 60m – 7.40
- Victoria Aransiola – Women's 60m – 7.55
- Ka'Myya Haywood – Women's 400m – 54.69
- Ellison Colarossi – Women's Pole Vault – 4.02m / 13-2.25
- Kendall Ford – Women's Pole Vault – 4.02m / 13-2.25
- Caroline Weems – Women's Pole Vault – 4.02m / 13-2.25
- Donna Douglas – Women's Shot Put – 15.48m (50-9.5)
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Hurdles/Jumps
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Mid-Distance
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Track & FieldPole Vault
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Sprints
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