A pair of Lady Vol track and field freshmen set new program marks on April 3 during the opening day of the 2026 Pepsi Florida Relays in Gainesville, Florida. Hannah Grace tied Tennessee’s outdoor school record in the women’s pole vault, while Mary Nyaboke Ogwoka established a new freshman record for the women’s 1,500-meter run.
The achievements by Grace and Ogwoka highlight a strong start to the outdoor season for Tennessee’s athletes. Their performances also place them among top national and world rankings for collegiate track and field this year.
Grace, competing in her first collegiate outdoor meet, cleared 4.45 meters (14-7.25) to win the pole vault event. This mark ties Tennessee’s school record and currently ranks her second nationally among NCAA athletes as well as second in U20 world standings for 2026. Ogwoka secured victory in the women’s invitational 1,500 meters with a time of 4:11.72—more than four seconds faster than her previous best—which now stands as fourth all-time at Tennessee and fifth nationally this season.
Assistant coach Jeff Chakouian guided several notable performances in throwing events on Friday. Junior Cedricka Williams won the women’s invitational discus with a throw of 56.83 meters (186-5), ranking fifth all-time at UT and fourth nationally this season. In men’s hammer throw, sophomores Igor Olaru and Aidan Ifkovits both posted personal bests; Olaru’s winning mark of 69.88 meters (229-3) is now second in UT history and seventh nationwide this year.
Other highlights included sophomore Caley Sosnowski finishing third in women’s javelin with a throw of 51.10 meters (167-8) during her first competition since an injury last April—placing her second on Tennessee’s all-time list—and Lebanese freshman Marc Anthony Ibrahim winning his heat in men’s 400-meter hurdles with a time that ranks fourth nationally this season.
The Lady Vols’ relay team advanced to Saturday’s final after securing their preliminary heat win in the women’s 4×100-meter relay with a time of 43.75 seconds.
Tennessee will conclude its participation at the Florida Relays on Saturday, starting with men’s invitational discus at 11 a.m., followed by various events throughout the day.
