BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- Sophomore Maddie Wheatcroft won her heat Saturday and finished third in the 800 meter at the Mocs Indoor Track and Field opener. UTC opened the season at the Vulcan Invitational hosted by UAB at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
 
"Maddie went out a little conservative but closed hard for the win and a PR," Meyer said. "Kathryn and Brooke raced hard as well."
 
Wheatcroft finished ahead of the Southern Miss runner by 1.32 seconds with a time of 2:18.57 in the second heat and finished third overall. Samford's Adeline Haisch placed first followed by Madelyn Keating from Mississippi State. She set a new personal best in the even by nearly three seconds.
 
Transfer Kathryn Vradenburg placed 12^th with a time of 2:25.87 in the 800 and freshman Brooke Tyll finished with a time of 2:40.79.
 
"In the 400, all the girls ran very well. A little better than expected," Mocs head coach Andy Meyer said. "Lexi, Maddie and Sarah were strong and kept their efforts measured."
 
Lexi Foley paced the Mocs in the 400 meter dash with a time of 1:01.33 in her fist attempt at the distance. Sarah Unterholzner beat out her previous best with a time of 1:03.95. Wheatcroft finished at 1:03.41.
 
"In the 3000 meter Leah and Andrea were very patient and ran outstanding," Meyer said. "They started strong and finished fast, both placing well in their heats and setting significant PRs."
 
Leah Boyd took eighth in the women's 3000 meter run, setting a new PR with a time of 10:21.88, shaving nearly 12 seconds off her previous top time in the indoor season. Andrea Ellis, running her first indoor season, finished 14^th with a time of 10:44.74.
 
"We were glad to get this meet in and begin the indoor season," Meyer said. "In the Mile, Brooke [Tyll] and Lola [Baker] got out to a slow start but worked their way through the race and both closed very well."
 
Ava McGue jumped a 4.25 in the long jump and 1.45 in the high jump. The relay teams closed out the meet with Unterholzner, McGue, Vrandenburgh and Wheatcrof on the first team that posted a time of 4:18.17. Team B, Allie Potter, Olivia Steele, Kennedy Reynolds and anchored by Hannah Dearing finished with a time of 4:54.40.
 
"Ava jumped well to open up in the long jump and high jump," Meyer said. "Both of our 4x4s closed out the meet on a strong note."
 
The Mocs have a quick turnaround. The Samford Invitational will take place at the CrossPlex on Friday, Jan. 19.
 
 
 
 
 

400 meter Dash
8	Lexi Foley	1:01.33
15	Maddie Wheatcroft	1:02.41
19	Sarah Unterholzner	1:03.95
Mile Run
18	Brooke Tyll	5:30.95
21	Lola Baker	5:31.67
--	Leah Boyd	DNS
800 meter Run
3	Maddie Wheatcroft	2:18.57
12	Kathryn Vradenburgh	2:25.87
20	Brooke Tyll	2:40.79
3000 meter Run
8	Leah Boyd	10:21.88
14	Andrea Ellis	10:44.74
--	Camden Morris	DNS
4x400 meter Relay
17	Chattanooga A	4:18.17
18	Chattanooga B	4:54.40
Long Jump
37	Ava McGue	4.25m [13-11.50]
High Jump
21	Ava McGue	1.45m [4-09.00]