Vanderbilt Showdown: A Thrilling Track Central Event at the University of Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee track & field team heads to the capital of Volunteer State this weekend, progressing its 2024-25 indoor season by visiting Nashville for the Vanderbilt Invitational – scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17-18, at the Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility.

The Big Orange squad includes 54 competitors engaging in 18 events throughout the weekend, commencing Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET with newcomer Aidan Ifkovits aiming for his second straight win in the men’s weight throw. The event will finish on Saturday around 7:35 p.m. ET with Tennessee entering two teams in the men’s 4×400-meter relay.

The complete Vanderbilt Invitational timetable is accessible here. Portions of the event will be broadcast on both days through SEC Network+, and real-time results will be continuously available over the weekend by PrimeTime Timing.

LAST APPEARANCE: Tennessee started the new year robustly in the Lone Star State, securing 10 first-place finishes and showcasing several impressive performances at the McFerrin 12 Degree Invitational on Friday, Jan. 10, at Texas A&M’s R.A. Fasken Indoor Track & Field Facility.

The Vols and Lady Vols captured event titles in the throws, sprints, hurdles, and relays in College Station and also achieved a couple of solid second-place finishes in the pole vault events. Overall, Tennessee amassed 36 top-five finishes, 13 top-10 records in school history, and one school record at the competition.

Updates and highlights from the McFerrin 12 Degree Invitational are available here.

TENNESSEE IN THE RATINGS: As of Thursday, Jan. 16, Tennessee athletes rank in the top 16 nationally across seven events per the TFRRS NCAA Division I Indoor qualifying list, which includes the top performances nationwide in the women’s 60-meter hurdles, women’s 4×400-meter relay, and men’s pole vault.

• Consider Ekanem – Men’s 60m – 6.57 (No. 2)
• T’Mars McCallum – Men’s 60m – 6.61 (No. 5)
• Faith Okwose – Women’s 60m – 7.34 (No. 16)
• Avaunt Ortiz – Men’s 400m – 47.80 (No. 16)
• Myreanna Bebe – Women’s 60m Hurdles – 8.06 (No. 1)
• Layla Anderson – Women’s 60m Hurdles – 8.23 (No. 9)
• Valcourt, Johnson, Wright, White – Women’s 4x400m Relay – 3:32.96 (No. 1)
• Cade Gray – Men’s Pole Vault – 5.56m / 18-2.75 (No. 1)
• Evan Puckett – Men’s Pole Vault – 5.32m / 17-5.5 (No. 10)
• Mya Strahm – Women’s Pole Vault – 4.20m / 13-9.25 (No. 14)

UP NEXT: UT’s indoor challenge proceeds next week with a journey over the Smoky Mountains to Clemson, South Carolina, for the Orange & Purple Invite. The event is slated for Friday and Saturday, Jan. 24-25 inside the Clemson University Indoor Track & Field Complex.