BLACKSBURG – Freshman Kenna Stimmel claimed her first collegiate victory at the Lenny Lyles Invitational on Friday after clearing a personal-best height of 14'4.5" (4.38m) in the women's pole vault.
Stimmel shattered her previous best mark of 13'11.25 (4.25m) as she soared above 14'0.5" (4.28m) on her second attempt. Fueled by excitement and determination, Stimmel went on to be the only collegiate athlete of the day to clear 14'2.5" (4.33m). The victory was already hers as she looked down the runway and saw the bar set to 14'4.5" (4.38m).
" I am very proud of the way Kenna competed today," said assistant coach Bob Phillips. "She struggled a bit on the first few bars, but kept fighting and was jumping well by the end.
Stimmel joins her teammates Julia Fixsen (second) and Journey Gurley (sixth) in the NCAA Top 10, currently ranked fourth. Virginia Tech alum, Rachel Baxter joined Stimmel in the victory after clearing a facility-record height of 14'6.25" (4.43m).
Throws
Throwers Rebecca Mammel, Sara Killinen, and Barbora Stejfova claimed first, second, and third in the women's weight throw in a field of 36 student-athletes. Mammel, the 2021 ACC weight throw champion, held the lead for the Hokies from the start of the day scoring 69'2.75". In the fifth round, Mammel launched the weight across the landing area 72'3" (22.02m), her best throw of the day. Killinen followed behind in second with a throw of 69'2.5" (21.09m), Stejfova in third with a distance of 65" (19.81m).
Sprints / Hurdles
Sophomore Layla Anderson earned an automatic qualifying spot into the women's 60m hurdles winning her heat with a time of 8.39. In the finals, Anderson finished second clocking in a time of 8.33. Thirty minutes prior, Anderson finished fourth in the 60m dash crossing the line with a personal-best time of 7.47.
Jumps
Sophomore Caleb Stephens launched himself a season-best distance of 24'0.75" (7.33m) on his fifth attempt in the men's long jump, finishing second.
Heptathlon
Sean Murphy currently sits in fourth after four events with 3045 points. Murphy improved upon his sixth-place start in the 60m dash, ending the day with two third-place finishes in shot put and high jump.
The Lenny Lyles Invitational will resume at 11:00 a.m. with the men's heptathlon 60-meters hurdles.
