Church Wins Again at Vanderbilt's Music City Challenge

Saturday, February 13

Nashville, Tenn.

University of Memphis

Music City Challenge

LaForrest Church, 2015-16 Men's Track and Field

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Church Wins Again at Vanderbilt's Music City Challenge

Feb 13, 2016 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

Memphis track and field teams post 14 top-10 finishes Saturday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – LaForrest Church made it a perfect three-for-three at Vanderbilt University this season, winning the 800 meters Saturday at the Music City Challenge. The Memphis men's and women's track and field squads combined to post 14 total top-10 performances, highlighted by Church's first-place finish.

Church raced to his best time of the season of 1:49.45, just .43 seconds shy of the school record (1:49.02). It was his third 800m title this season, all at events hosted by Vandy, after he won at the Commodore Indoor Opener (Dec. 5) and the Vanderbilt Invitational (Jan. 30).

Alex Klatt finished just .28 seconds behind Church to place second in the 800m. This also marks the third event at Vanderbilt in which he has placed second behind his teammate Church.

The men's track and field team accounted for nine total top-10 performances. Lucas Miller (49.39) and Jason Kimmet (49.62) placed eighth and ninth respectively in the 400 meters. Corentin Louis ran the 3000 meters in 8:15.50 to place 10^th.

Aaron Persinger finished 10^th in the 60 meter hurdles with a season-best time of 8.30 seconds. Luis Hanssler jumped 23'8" in the long jump to finish in fifth place.

The duo of Rafael Vallery and Wade Wells both placed in the top-10 in the shot put with throws of 51' 5.50" and 50' 5.25" respectively.

The women's team posted five top-10 finishes, including the pole vault trior of Clara Amat-Fernandez, Carolina Carmichael and Jada Parker. Amat Fernandez and Carmichael tied for fourth place with a mark of 13-4.50 while Parker was ninth with a 12-foot vault.

Martina Rodriguez finished 10^th in the 3,000 meters with a time of 9:34.63. Sydney Wright was seventh in the long jump with a mark of 19' 6".

Memphis will next compete at the Redhawks Invitational hosted by Southeast Missouri in Cape Girardeau, Mo. next week. The Tigers are two weeks away from the American Athletic Conference Championships, Feb. 28-29, in Birmingham, Ala.

Memphis Men's Results
400m – 8. Lucas Miller, 49.39; 9. Jason Kimmet, 49.62; 12. Michael Carey, 49.73; 13. Namman Norment, 50.19; 14. Antaun Andrews, 50.26; 16. Chris Walker, 50.65
800m – 1. LaForrest Church, 1:49.45; 2. Alex Klatt, 1:49.73; 11. Brock Ballard, 1:54.27; 12. Godfrey Fayne, 1:54.48; 14. Aaron Willett, 1:57.12; 21. Namman Norment, 2:01.71
Mile – 23. Matthew Viveiros, 4:20.30; 24. Matthew Kamph, 4:26.14
3000m – 10. Corentin Louis, 8:15.50; 30. James Durkin, 9:09.64; 33. Kiptoo Hezron, 9:21.52; 35. Brandon Keys, 9:33.50
60m hurdles – 10. Aaron Persinger, 8.30; 11. Aaron Willett, 8.54; 12. Luis Hanssler, 8.56
Long jump – 5. Luis Hanssler, 23' 8" (7.21m)
Shot put – 6. Rafael Vallery, 51' 5.50" (15.68m); 8. Wade Wells, 50' 5.25" (15.37m)

Memphis Women's Results
400m – 12. Destinee Lansden, 56.35; 24. DeVonni Farrar, 58.49; 28. Haleigh Montgomery, 59.31; 29. Rebeka Holt, 59.32; 32. Jasmine Taylor, 1:00.11; 40. Tonaya Gulley, 1:01.06; 44. Di'Anna Wright, 1:02.95
800m – 21. Melinda Murdock, 2:15.10
Mile – 53. Savannah Smith, 5:34.60
3000m – 10. Martina Rodriguez, 9:34.63; 29. Chelsea Ladd, 10:11.06; 34. Lauren Wheeler, 10:30.01; 43. Bailey Kennemer, 10:44.51
60m hurdles – 16. Tonaya Gulley, 8.94; 21. Haleigh Montgomery, 9.15; 24. Di'Anna Wright, 9.35; 26. Martine Bye, 9.66
Pole Vault – 4. Clara Amat-Fernandez, 13' 4.50" (4.08m); 4. Carolina Carmichael, 13' 4.50 (4.08m); 9. Jada Parker, 12' 0" (3.66m); 14. Dorina Baiker, 12' 0" (3.66m)
Long Jump – 7. Sydney Wright 19' 6" (5.94m); 13. Chardae Greenlee, 19' 0.75" (5.81m)
Shot put – 15. Martine Bye, 38' 2.75" (11.65m); 16. Ashley Pryke, 38' 0.75" (11.6m)