Weight Throw Freshman Records Highlight Friday At East Coast Invite

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Two Tennessee rookies took down all-time Vol and Lady Vol freshman records in the weight throw on Friday, headlining numerous notable performances from the Big Orange at the 62nd East Coast Invitational inside the Virginia Beach Sports Center.

Donna Douglas topped her own previous rookie standard in the event with a personal-best toss of 19.95 meters (65-5.25) in the sixth round – placing fourth at the meet and ranking herself fourth in Lady Vol history and ninth in the SEC this season. On the men's side, Aidan Ifkovits dialed up a sizable PR with his throw of 20.67m (67-9.75) to retake his claim as the top true freshman in the NCAA this season and rank seventh in Vols history.

Tennessee track & field earned three event titles on Friday – Medwin Odamtten in the men's 60-meter dash (6.69), Grant Campbell in the men's high jump (2.15m / 7-0.5) and Evan Puckett in the men's unseeded pole vault (5.40m / 17-8.5) as UT's vault squad competed at the Doc Hale VT Elite Meet in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Top performances and personal-best marks from Friday are noted below. Tennessee returns to action Saturday at 1 p.m. with the men's 60-meter hurdles, and the weekend will conclude with the men's 4x400-meter relay at approximately 3:50 p.m.

Notables

Freshman standout Donna Douglas dethroned her own Lady Vol freshman record in the women's weight with a sixth-round heave of 19.95m (65-5.25). The Jonesboro, Arkansas, native moved up to No. 4 on Tennessee's all-time list in the event and improved her rating as the No. 9 performer in the SEC this season.
Aidan Ifkovits claimed another freshman record for the Big Orange on Friday with his performance of 20.67m (67-9.75) – placing second at the meet and ranking seventh in school history. The New Paltz, New York, product took down the previous UT rookie standard of 20.17m (66-2.25) set by Georgios Korakidis in 2018.
In his second meet of the season after missing nearly an entire calendar year of competition, Medwin Odamtten earned his first collegiate victory with a college-best time of 6.69 seconds in the men's 60-meter final at Virginia Beach. He is one of five Vols to run below 6.7 during the 2025 indoor season.
Sophomore All-American Grant Campbell earned his third high jump win of the season on Friday, clearing 2.15m (7-0.5) at Virginia Beach. The performance marked his fourth consecutive competition clearing above seven feet this indoor season.
In Blacksburg, senior pole vaulter Evan Puckett opened the weekend for Tennessee with a victory in the men's unseeded pole vault – tying for first place after he cleared 5.40m (17-8.5) on his first attempt.
Friday night wrapped up with junior pole vaulter Kendall Ford clearing a personal-best height of 4.08m (13-4.5), finishing fourth at the meet and claiming sole possession of the No. 9 spot on Tennessee's all-time list in the women's indoor pole vault.

PR Tracker

Six Tennessee athletes recorded indoor personal records on Friday at the 62nd East Coast Invitational and Doc Hale VT Elite Meet.
- Victoria Aransiola – Women's 60m – 7.43
- Kendall Ford – Women's Pole Vault – 4.08m / 13-4.25
- Donna Douglas – Women's Weight Throw – 19.95m / 65-5.25
- Andrew Brown – Men's 400m – 47.38
- Calvin Wetzel – Men's 400m – 47.96
- Aidan Ifkovits – Men's Weight Throw – 20.67m / 67-9.75

University of Tennessee | Official Athletics Site

Weight Throw Freshman Records Highlight Friday At East Coast Invite

Players Mentioned

Victoria Aransiola

Andrew Brown

Grant Campbell

Donna Douglas

Kendall Ford

Aidan Ifkovits

Medwin Odamtten

Evan Puckett

Calvin Wetzel

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