Raiders slated for first 2016 competition

Sunday, January 10

Nashville, Tenn.

Middle Tennessee

Ed Temple Classic

1/9/2016 1:17:00 PM | Track & Field/Cross Country

By: @MTAthletics

MURFREESBORO, TENN. – In their first efforts of the 2016 year, the Middle Tennessee track & field teams are slated to visit Nashville and the Gentry Complex on the campus of Tennessee State for the Ed Temple Classic.

Event: Ed Temple Classic
Date: Sunday, Jan. 10
Host: Tennessee State
Site: Nashville, Tennessee (Gentry Complex)
Start Times: Field Events 8 a.m. | Running Events 10:30 a.m.
Results: ptgrouponline.com

36 days
The Blue Raider track & field teams opened the indoor season at the Vanderbilt Opener Dec. 5, 2015 and haven't competed since, marking 36 days between meets.

Last Time Out
At the Vanderbilt Opener, MT tallied 22 top-five finishes, while also capturing first in six events. Cross country running-mates Eliud Rutto and Hillary Rono, put on a performance in the mile, finishing first (4:12.20) and second (4:18.33), respectively.

Vincent Okot (triple jump), Ifiok Umoh (400 meter), Agnes Abu (800 meter) and Barbara Vilson (high jump) all claimed individual titles in their events. The 4x400-meter relay team of Taylor Day, Loveth Odia, Shaina Johnson and Odia finished first in a time of 3:45.93 and rank ninth in the NCAA.

Jumping to a New Standard
Okot, a senior from Gulu, Uganda, set a personal-best in the triple jump, bounding 16.08 meters (52-9.5) in the season opener at Vanderbilt. Okot's distance is the mark to beat in 2016, ranking as the top spot in the NCAA. Arkansas State's Roelf Pienarr is second with a leap of 15.94 meters (52-3.75).

Return of Rutto
At the last meet, the Blue Raiders welcomed back one of their top runners in Eliud Rutto. Rutto stepped on the track for the first time since the 2014 outdoor season. During his 2013-14 indoor campaign, the Eldoret, Kenya native and then-sophomore set the school record in the 800-meter and ranked first in the NCAA with his time of 1:47.45.

With his 4:12.20 mile time at the Vanderbilt Opener, it doesn't seem that Rutto has missed a step, as he currently ranks ninth in the NCAA with that time.

Where They Rank
NCAA Men's Rank as of Jan. 9:
22. Ifoik Umoh (400 meter, 49.11)

9. Eliud Rutto (mile, 4:12.20)
34. Hillary Rono (mile, 4:18.33)

9. Jacob Patten (high jump, 2.11m)
48 Phillip Smith (high jump, 2.02m)

1. Vincent Okot (triple jump, 16.08m)
6. Phillip Smith (triple jump, 15.25m)

NCAA Women's Rank as of Jan. 9:
12. Shaina Johnson (400 meter, 55.77)

6. Agnes Abu (800 meter, 2:13.52)

10. Josphine Kiptebeny (4:54.69)

9. Taylor Day, Barbara Vilson, Loveth Odia, Shaina Johnson (4x400-meter relay, 3:45.93)

17. Barbara Vilson (high jump, 1.74m)

23. India Hammond (long jump, 5.79m)
27. Pershawna Williams (long jump, 5.78m)

6. India Hammond (triple jump, 12.49m)
25. Pershawna Williams (12.02m)