Women's Track and Field 5/1/2021 12:00:00 AM

Dress Rehearsal

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University women's track and field delivered several top performances Saturday at the Tennessee Challenge hosted by the University of Tennessee.

On a picture postcard afternoon at Tom Black Track, the Bruins earned four podium placements as the team consistently bested competition from the SEC, ACC and Conference USA.

Senior Payton Barlow (White House, Tenn.) seized the day, posting a second-place finish in the 400 meters with a personal-record time of 55.26.

Elsewhere, senior Adreanna Parlette (Nashville, Tenn.) placed third in a deep long jump field with a mark of 6.14m. Parlette also claimed fifth in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 14.25, fractions from her season-best.

Senior Jessica Mattsson (Tierp, Sweden) gutted out a third-place finish in the hammer throw, while sophomore Maddie Quinn (Bible Hill, Canada) secured third in the javelin.

While the team headed back to Nashville with positive vibes, Associate Head Coach Cameron Harvey believes the best is yet to come.

"It was good to see Payton hit a PR in the 400," Harvey said. "We've been trying to work with pacing her race out properly all season, and today was a big step in the right direction. Adreanna has been working on a new approach (in the long jump) and she's starting to get used to it. It was great to see every jump over 19 feet and three over 20. As we get more reps, bigger things are going to come for her."

The Bruins will return to competition at the Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Championships May 13-15 in Charleston, Illinois.