NASHVILLE, Tenn. – SIUE track and field competed in its final meet before the OVC Outdoor Championship on Friday and Saturday at the Vanderbilt Outdoor Music City Challenge. The weekend was highlighted by Vashanti Reynold's 13.73 mark in the women's 100m hurdles, good for third in program history. Several student-athletes also set career best marks in their respective events.

"Vandy was the perfect jumping point for heading into conference," Head Coach Marcus Evans said. "We had several PRs and highlights throughout the day that kept getting better. It felt like the team was matching the energy and fought for their team to seek out better performances."

Throws:

Alexis Hutchins threw a PR in the women's shot put to earn second with a 14.68m toss. Claire Bushur (fourth/14.04) and Maryiah Menicucci (sixth/13.36m) also threw career best marks in the shot put.

Kaitlyn Morningstar led SIUE in the women's discus at 41.95m for ninth. Allison Sanders (20th/36.16m) and Gabby Yaccino (21st/34.90m) also competed in the event.

Hutchins also finished second in the women's hammer throw at 55.48m. Yaccino took sixth at 49.54m while Sanders posted a 46.95m toss for ninth. Jamirah Meeks posted a 34.38m toss in the women's javelin for 12th.

In the men's shot put, Luke Hatten tied for 11th at 14.62m. He also grabbed ninth in the men's hammer throw at 49.18m.

Jumps:

Zaria Searcy tied for 10th in the women's high jump at 1.62m. Aseanti Boone tied for 15th with a 1.58m leap. In the long jump, Dakota Krone earned eighth at 5.67m for a PR. Nyah Williams collected seventh in the women's triple jump at 11.59m. In the women's long jump invite, Folasade Oladipupo earned seventh at 5.63m.

Drew Tucker set a PR en route to a first-place finish in the men's high jump at 2.03m. Caden Belcher finished eighth at 1.92m.

Hurdles:

Vashanti Reynolds earned ninth in the women's 100m hurdles at 13.73 to set a new PR. Her time also stacks up third in SIUE program history.

Tyler Bell recorded a 14.71 mark in the men's 110m hurdles, earning ninth overall. Taylor Lehman earned 12th and crossed the finish line at 15.01, good for a PR. Lehman also competed in the men's 400m hurdles and finished fifth at 54.63. Cole Knapp finished inside the top 10 at 56.17.

Sprints:

Kaylee Allen led SIUE in the women's 100m dash with an 11.94 time for 12th place. Folasade Oladipupo finished 31st at 12.47 while Jada Fryer took 32nd at 12.54. Allen also led the Cougars in the 200m dash and set a PR at 25.06 for 23rd. Alondria Smith finished 42nd at 26.21.

In the women's 400m, Kailah Carter earned 10th, crossing the finish line at 56.77. Mia Jackson earned 25th at 15.22.

Konnor Bouman represented SIUE and crossed the finish line at 11.06 in the men's 100m dash. Konrad Sacha turned in a PR in the men's 200m at 21.81. Tyler Bell posted a 22.04 mark in the event for 21st.

Sacha also earned 13th in the men's 400m with a 49.28 time.

Mid-Distance and Distance:

Gabrielle Horton finished 20th in the women's 800m at 2:16.30. Megan Derrick (2:30.31) and Courtney Anthonies (2:30.69) finished back-to-back at 41st and 42nd.

On the men's side of the 800m, D'Andre Watson finished 34th at 1:59.86. Tyler Guthrie took 17th in the men's 3,000m at 9:04.49. Watson also finished ninth in the men's 1,500m at 4:10.57.

In the women's 1,500m, freshman Riley Doyle (5:06.94) and Ana Keller (5:07.65) finished back-to-back at 52nd and 53rd. Caroline Gwaltney took 55th at 5:18.55. Alexis Fischer led SIUE in the women's 3,000m, crossing the finish line at 11:04.81 for 21st. Natalia Rodriguez earned 27th at 11:33.14 while Chessy Nikonowicz posted an 11:54.91 mark for 30th.

Kaitlyn Walker tallied an 18:14.33 time in the women's 5,000m for 14th. Olivia Wolf (28th/20:18.03) and Alexis Edgar (30th/20:45.84) also competed in the event.

Mia Loafman represented the Cougars in the women's 3,000m steeplechase, finishing 16th at 11:53.96. Alexis Kampwerth took 19th at 12:40.70. On the men's side of the 3,000m steeplechase, Blake Panagos took 21st at 10:24.78.

Roland Prenzler crossed the finish line at 14:56.91 in the men's 5,000m while Spencer Hielkema placed 16th at 15:15.75.

Relays:

The women's 4x100m relay squad of Vashanti Reynolds, Kaylee Allen, Kailah Carter, and Folasade Oladipupo finished seventh at 47.88. The 4x100 team of Kaylee Allen, Gabrielle Horton, Alondria Smith, and Kailah Carter took fifth at 3:49.55.

The men's 4x100m relay team of Simon McLaine, Caden Belcher, Cole Knapp, and Konnor Bouman crossed the finish line at 43.92 for fifth.

Up Next:

SIUE travels to Charleston, Illinois for the OVC Outdoor Championship, beginning Thursday, May 9 through Saturday, May 11.

Follow the Cougars:

Stay connected with the Cougars all season long by following @SIUETrackandField on Instagram and @SIUETrackField on X.