Women's Track and Field 4/10/2021 12:00:00 AM

Continuing to Make Strides

OXFORD, Miss. -- The Belmont Women's Track and Field team faced stiff competition at the Ole Miss-hosted Joe Walker Invitational over the weekend. During a year when breaking records has become the norm for the Bruins, BU did not disappoint.

Sophomore Lily Hallum (Mason, Ohio) broke her own Belmont record in the 800m by running it in 2:10.79. "Lily's 800 was a really fast time. We are really happy about that," said Assistant Coach Kate Bucknam. "She actually ran the first lap in 61 seconds, which is incredibly fast for the first half of an 800. After running so hard in the first half, the fact that she was still able to break a Belmont record is phenomenal. We know if she keeps running with this amount of heart and grit, she has the ability to drop her time in the 800m even further."

Senior Caroline Pruitt (Alien, Texas) dropped her own personal best time in the 400m Hurdles that broke the meet record last week for the Joey Haines Invitational. This week, she ran it in 1:01.81 and won her heat, while placing fourth overall in the event. "She has been on a roll in the past couple weeks, and she is really starting to find her rhythm in the 400m hurdles," said Associate Head Coach Cameron Harvey. "She is the type of athlete that can grind it out over 400 meters. For her to continue to push her time down in this event is really encouraging and impressive. She has a lot of grit. She's a strong competitor that benefited from the elevated completion in this close race. It made her work a little bit harder towards the end of the race, and helped her break her personal record."

Senior Adreanna Parlette (Nashville, Tenn.) has been breaking school records for the past two weeks in Long Jump. Last week, she leapt 6.50m to be ranked seventh nationally. "It's amazing how fast you can get use to someone jumping over 6 meters. Any other day we would have been ecstatic with Adreanna's performance," said Harvey. "She didn't look her best today, but it's just a testament to her ability and confidence that she can have an off day and still jump this far and be this consistent."

Parlette also had a strong performance in the 100m Hurdles, where she put up a personal best time of 14.36 to take third. Freshman Michella Diebenow (Collierville, Tenn.) was not far behind, taking fourth place with her own personal record in the event of 14.82. "Parlette has cut some serious time off her 100m hurdle, and she ran a really clean race leading to her personal record in the event," said Coach Harvey. "Michella had a colligate personal record, as well, which was also an outstanding time, especially for a freshman."

Senior Halle Hausman (Johnson City, Tenn.) ran a great 1500m where she had a personal best time of 4:44.64. "I thought Halle had a great race in the 1500. She went out there with a race plan, and she executed it perfectly," said Bucknam. "I think winning that heat for her was a great confidence boost. But, I think she had more left in the tank. She has room for improvement in that event later this season."

Senior Jessica Mattsson (Teirp, Sweden) recorded a mark of 58.30m in the Hammer Throw that placed her sixth in a very competitive field. "Jessica had her second farthest Hammer Throw ever today," said Assistant Coach Joe Frye. "It was the type of meet that you had to throw really far just to make finals, and she did just that. On her fourth throw she was able to be very technically sound and crank up the intensity to throw 58.30m. I think any time you can elevate your technic and dial in the intensity like she did, you are going to do great. I think she still has a few meters to grow before this season is over."

After a meet where the Bruins faced off against much larger schools, including Ole Miss, Notre Dame, and Illinois State, the coaching staff is glad to see the Bruins compete with so much poise and determination. They see this team has shown it's hungry for improvement, and they are not taking their foot off the gas pedal.

"The women are continuing to shine this outdoor track season, and we're happy with the fact that they aren't getting complacent. They want more. They are ready to work and practice humble," said Belmont's Director of Track & Field Jeff Langdon. "I think that will pay off in the coming weeks when we approach the outdoor conference championship.

"I've been really happy with the way our women's athletes support each other. It just shows that when you have that team mentality, everybody is going to get better."

The Bruins will be competing at Vanderbilt Black & Gold meet next weekend in Nashville.

Belmont Only Results

Women's Hammer
6. Jessica Mattsson SR., – 58.30m
10. Rebekah Stucker FR., – 50.06m

Women's Discus
7. Rebekah Stucker FR., – 46.47m

Women's Shot Put
NA. Rebekah Stucker FR., – FOUL

Women's Long Jump
2. Adreanna Parlette SR., – 6.14m

Women's Pole Vault
6. Tyra Finkeldey JR., – 3.73m

Women's 100m Hurdles
3. Adreanna Parlette SR., – 14.36*
4. Michella Diebenow FR., – 14.82*

Women's 400m Hurdles
4. Caroline Pruitt SR., – 1:01.81*
8. Michella Diebenow FR., –1:07.05

Women's 200m
16. Payton Barlow SR., – 25.88
18. Savanah Balcerak FR., – 26.23

Women's 400m
9. Payton Barlow SR., – 57.96
13. Savanah Balcerak FR., – 59.18*

Women's 800m
24. Lily Hallum SO., –2:10.79**