Raiders jump through first day at Vanderbilt

Friday, January 15

Nashville, Tenn.

Middle Tennessee

Commodore Invitational

1/15/2016 9:54:00 PM | Track & Field/Cross Country

Patten with PR in high jump

By: @MTAthletics

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee track & field teams opened up the first day of competition at the Commodore Invitational Friday at the Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility, and fresh off his C-USA accolades, Jacob Patten won the high jump again.

Patten, the reigning C-USA Male Field Athlete of the Week, cleared a career-best 2.12 meters (6-11.5) meters in the high jump. The Memphis, Tennessee native jumped 2.05 meters at the Ed Temple Classic last week to earn his C-USA honor, and surpassed his 2.11 meter distance at the season opening Vanderbilt Opener in December.

"The jumps did well and Vincent (Okot) notched a personal-best in the long jump," said head coach Dean Hayes. "Jacob (Patten) had one of the best performance of the night and so did Amos (Cheruiyot)."

Vincent Okot also continued his early success in 2016, jumping a personal-best 7.06 meters (23-2) in the long jump. Okot's previous-best distance came at the Vanderbilt Opener, where the Uganda native leaped 6.86 meters.

The long distance runner for the Blue Raiders was Amos Cheruiyot, who snagged a fourth-place finish in the 5,000 meter in 14:51.05.

On the women's side, Pershawna Williams finished sixth in the high jump, clearing 1.71 meters (5-7.5) and narrowly missing her personal-best. Williams earned her career-best 1.73 meter jump (5.8) at the 2015 Ed Temple Classic.

India Hammond continued the success in the jumps, finishing eighth in the long jump. The Stone Mountain, Georgia native leaped 6.03 meters (18-6.5).

"Tomorrow is when you have most of the events and we will be looking forward to Vincent's performance in the triple jump and see what (Eliud) Rutto can do in the 800," said Hayes. "We also are looking forward to what Elizabeth (Dadzie) can do in the hurdles."

Middle Tennessee concludes competition at the Commodore Invitational tomorrow.

Men's Results:
High Jump
1. Jacob Patten (2.12m/6-11.5)

Long Jump
8. Vincent Okot (7.06m/23-2)

200 Meter
13. Ifiok Umoh (22.24)
23. Chaz Simmons (22.79)

5,000 Meter
4. Amos Cheruyiot (14:51.05)

Women's Results:
High Jump
6. Pershawna Williams (1.71m/5-7.5)
10. Barbara Vilson (1.71m/5-7.5)

Long Jump
8. India Hammond (6.03m/18-6.5)
13. Qetwurah Abullah-Muhammad (5.65m/18-6.5)

200 Meter
12. Loveth Odia (25.33)
14. Taylor Day (25.45)
16. Elizabeth Dadzie (25.47)
22. Qetwurah Abullah-Muhammad (25.68)
24. Doreen Agyei (25.81)
40. Jessica Howell (26.47)