The Chattanooga women's indoor track & field team went opposing directions Friday in the same time zone with the majority traveling to Birmingham, Ala., for the Samford Bulldog Invitational and a smaller contingent competing in Nashville at the Vanderbilt Music City Challenge.
 
SAMFORD BULLDOG INVITATIONAL
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The Chattanooga Mocs women's indoor track and field team turned in a strong day of performances Friday at the Samford Bulldog Invitational, highlighted by multiple personal bests and a pair of top‑three finishes at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
 
Freshman Aubrey Park led UTC with a third‑place finish in the 5000 meters, clocking a personal-best 18:31.02. Teammate Scarlett Nash followed close behind in fourth at 18:42.03, giving the Mocs two runners in the top four.
 
In the field events, sophomore Halle Carden continued her consistency with a third-place finish in the high jump, clearing 1.66 meters (5-05.25). Carden added a fourth-place mark in the triple jump at 10.75 meters (35-03.25) to cap her multi-event effort.
 
Distance standout Bella King placed fourth in the mile with a personal-best 5:06.97. The Mocs stacked six runners in the event, including PRs from Maya McCloskey (5:23.67), Olivia Steele (5:36.56) and Lauren Bayes (6:02.02).
 
Sprinter Ava McGue highlighted the short sprints, placing 15th in the 200 meters with a season-best 27.27 and taking 13th in the 400 meters at 1:01.58. Aavinlee Torrance (27.44) and Norah Haney (27.81, PR) followed close behind in the 200.
 
Chattanooga also logged solid results in the jumps, with Haney finishing 10th in the long jump at 4.98m (16-04.25) and McGue placing 12th at 4.79m (15-08.75).
 
The Mocs closed the meet with a fourth-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay, as McGue, Taylor Crawford, Torrance and Kolbee Webb combined for a 4:15.51.
 
Crawford also posted an eighth‑place finish in the 800 meters, crossing in 2:22.84.
 
SAMFORD BULLDOG INVITATIONAL RESULTS

200 meter	15	Ava McGue	27.27
	17	Aavinlee Torrance	27.44
	19	Norah Haney	27.81	PR
400 meter	13	Ava McGue	1:01.58
800 meter	8	Taylor Crawford	2:22.84
Mile	4	Bella King	5:06.97	PR
	13	Ellie von Herrmann	5:23.55
	14	Maya McCloskey	5:23.67	PR
	18	Olivia Steele	5:36.56	PR
	19	Anna Roberson	5:38.74
	21	Lauren Bayes	6:02.02	PR
5000 meter	3	Aubrey Park	18:31.02	PR
	4	Scarlett Nash	18:42.03
High Jump	3	Halle Carden	1.66m [5-05.25]
Long Jump	10	Norah Haney	4.98m [16-04.25]
	12	Ava McGue	4.79m [15-08.75]
Triple Jump	4	Halle Carden	10.75m [35-03.25]
4x400m Relay	4	McGue, Crawford, Torrance, K.Webb	4:15.51

 
 
MUSIC CITY CHALLENGE, Nashville, Tenn.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. --- The Chattanooga Mocs women's indoor track and field team wrapped up a competitive weekend at the Vanderbilt Music City Challenge on Friday, posting several strong distance performances and another personal best as the team continued its mid‑February build toward the postseason.
 
Ryleigh Simmons opened the meet for UTC in the 60-meter dash, placing 27th overall in a deep sprint field with a time of 7.73, just hundredths of a second off her personal best.
 
In the mile Maddie Wheatcroft led the Mocs clocking a time of 5:01.12. Leah Boyd Mitchell followed closely at 5:02.64, while Audrey Wade crossed in 5:24.30 to round out Chattanooga's entries.
 
In the 5000 meters all three runners finished inside the top 61. Andrea Ellis led the group with a 46th‑place finish in 18:02.87, while Lola Baker followed at 18:26.50. Emma Thweatt closed out UTC's efforts with a personal‑best 18:32.51, placing 61st.
 
Music City Challenge

60 meter	27	Ryleigh Simmons	7.73
Mile	47	Maddie Wheatcroft	5:01.12
	51	Leah Boyd Mitchell	5:02.64
	97	Audrey Wade	5:24.30
5000 meter	46	Andrea Ellis	18:02.87
	58	Lola Baker	18:26.50
	61	Emma Thweatt	18:32.51	PR

 
 
UP NEXT
Chattanooga heads to Lexington, Va., at the end of the month for the Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships hosted by VMI.
 
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