Raiders to compete at Vanderbilt

Friday, January 29

Nashville, Tenn.

Middle Tennessee

Vanderbilt Invitational

1/28/2016 11:14:00 PM | Track & Field/Cross Country

Rutto to go to North Carolina

By: @MTAthletics

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Following a trip to Birmingham and the site of the 2016 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, the Blue Raider track & field teams return to Nashville for the Vanderbilt Invitational Friday and Saturday.

Event: Vanderbilt Invitational
Date: Friday, Jan. 29-Saturday, Jan. 30
Host: Vanderbilt
Site: Nashville, Tennessee
Friday Start Times: Track Events 7 p.m. | Field Events 4 p.m.
Saturday Start Times: Track Events 10 a.m. | Field Events 11 a.m.
Results: cfpitiming.com

Last Time Out
The first trip of the indoor season outside of Tennessee was a successful one for the Middle Tennessee track & field teams, earning 11 first-place finishes, while adding 30 finishers in the top-five in their respective events at the Emory Invitational.

In the team rankings, the MT women's squad finished first with a team score of 129.50, beating out rival C-USA school Florida Atlantic (95). The Blue Raider men finished second after accumulating 100 points and were beaten out by South Carolina State.

Patten Power
Freshman Jacob Patten earned his second Conference USA Male Field Athlete of the Week honor Jan. 25. The Memphis, Tennessee native cleared 2.14 meters (7-0.25) in the high jump and nearly broke the Middle Tennessee indoor record. Patten's leap came close to the 2.17-meter (7-1.5) mark set by Alex Pruitt in 2005.

Where is Rutto?
Eliud Rutto, a 2014 NCAA Outdoor First-Team All-American, will divert from the plans to go to Vanderbilt with the Blue Raiders and instead travel to Winston Salem, North Carolina. Rutto will compete at the JDL Fast Track in the Camel City Invitational Saturday, facing professional competition from Nike, Asics, Brooks and other top collegiate runners in the 800 meter.

NCAA Rank
Men-
8. Eliud Rutto (800 Meter, 1:49.12)

38. Alden Dixon, Ifiok Umoh, Eliud Rutto, Geoffry Cheruiyot (Distance Medley Relay (10:14.55)

24. Jacob Patten (High Jump, 2.14m)

5. Vincent Okot (Triple Jump, 16.08m)
37. Phillip Smith (Triple Jump, 15.25m)

Women-
18. Agnes Abu (800 Meter, 2:09.46)

22. Josphine Kiptebeny (5,000, 16:53.45)

20. Barbara Vilson (High Jump, 1.79m)

18. Elizabeth Dadzie (Long Jump, 6.12m)
30. India Hammond (Long Jump, 6.03m)

15. India Hammond (Triple Jump, 12.77m)
17. Pershawna Williams (12.74m)