University of Tennessee Athletics
UT Caps Tom Jones Invite With Six NCAA Top-15 Performances, Seven Top-10 Program Marks
April 18, 2026 | Track & Field
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Tennessee track & field closed out competition at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational on Saturday with six performances that rank among the top 15 in the NCAA this season and seven marks that cracked the program's all-time top-10 lists.
Highlighting the day on the national stage, the Lady Vols posted a pair of top-six NCAA marks in relay action. Tennessee's 4x100-meter relay squad of Lauren Jarrett, Dana Wilson, Avia Jones and Cydney Wright clocked a season-best 43.01 seconds to finish third, ranking sixth nationally and fourth in program history. The Lady Vols also capped the meet with a season-best 3:24.96 in the 4x400-meter relay, as Wright, Javonya Valcourt, Maira Scott and Esther Joseph combined for the No. 2 time in school history and the No. 6 mark in the NCAA this season.
Individually, Valcourt made an impressive outdoor debut in the 400-meter dash, placing third with a time of 50.86 seconds. Her mark ranks fifth nationally and sits less than two tenths of a second shy of her personal best.
The Lady Vols also produced two of the top performances in school history in the 100-meter dash invitational. Jarrett placed fifth with a personal-best 11.06 seconds, tying for the No. 3 mark in program history and ranking 12th nationally. Wilson followed with an 11.14 clocking to break Tennessee's freshman record and move to No. 8 on the all-time list.
In the women's 800-meter invitational, Ka'Myya Haywood delivered a breakthrough performance with a personal-best 2:01.97. The mark ranks 13th in the NCAA this season and is tied for seventh in program history.
On the men's side, Davonte Howell opened his outdoor season with a 10.08 (+2.9 m/s) performance in the invitational 100-meter dash, finishing sixth and ranking eighth nationally in 2026. Andre Jackson II also turned in a strong showing in his first outdoor 400-meter as a Volunteer, clocking a lifetime-best 45.68 seconds to tie for the No. 7 mark in program history.
In the field events, freshman Wesley Badenhorst secured a victory in the men's collegiate discus with a personal-best throw of 57.86 meters (189-10), moving to No. 9 in program history.
UP NEXT: Tennessee's throws squad will travel to Auburn, Alabama, for the Tiger Track Classic on Saturday, April 25.
Highlighting the day on the national stage, the Lady Vols posted a pair of top-six NCAA marks in relay action. Tennessee's 4x100-meter relay squad of Lauren Jarrett, Dana Wilson, Avia Jones and Cydney Wright clocked a season-best 43.01 seconds to finish third, ranking sixth nationally and fourth in program history. The Lady Vols also capped the meet with a season-best 3:24.96 in the 4x400-meter relay, as Wright, Javonya Valcourt, Maira Scott and Esther Joseph combined for the No. 2 time in school history and the No. 6 mark in the NCAA this season.
Individually, Valcourt made an impressive outdoor debut in the 400-meter dash, placing third with a time of 50.86 seconds. Her mark ranks fifth nationally and sits less than two tenths of a second shy of her personal best.
The Lady Vols also produced two of the top performances in school history in the 100-meter dash invitational. Jarrett placed fifth with a personal-best 11.06 seconds, tying for the No. 3 mark in program history and ranking 12th nationally. Wilson followed with an 11.14 clocking to break Tennessee's freshman record and move to No. 8 on the all-time list.
In the women's 800-meter invitational, Ka'Myya Haywood delivered a breakthrough performance with a personal-best 2:01.97. The mark ranks 13th in the NCAA this season and is tied for seventh in program history.
On the men's side, Davonte Howell opened his outdoor season with a 10.08 (+2.9 m/s) performance in the invitational 100-meter dash, finishing sixth and ranking eighth nationally in 2026. Andre Jackson II also turned in a strong showing in his first outdoor 400-meter as a Volunteer, clocking a lifetime-best 45.68 seconds to tie for the No. 7 mark in program history.
In the field events, freshman Wesley Badenhorst secured a victory in the men's collegiate discus with a personal-best throw of 57.86 meters (189-10), moving to No. 9 in program history.
UP NEXT: Tennessee's throws squad will travel to Auburn, Alabama, for the Tiger Track Classic on Saturday, April 25.
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Track & Field
Mid-Distance/Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & FieldT&F | Tennessee Invite Meet Recap (4.11.26)
Monday, April 13
T&F | Florida Relays Meet Recap (4.4.26)
Monday, April 06
T&F | NCAA Indoor Championships Meet Recap (3.14.26)
Wednesday, March 18
Everything Orange S3 l Ismaila Sawaneh (Track & Field)
Friday, March 06
