Brittany Sheffey wins 1,500, 3,200 relay in home finale

Tennessee senior Brittany Sheffey had a bittersweet Saturday afternoon in her last home meet.

Sheffey won the 1,500-meter run and was on the winning 3,200-meter relay team in the 46th annual Sea Ray Relays on Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium.

During the meet, Sheffey and UT's other seniors — 13 Lady Vols and nine Vols — were recognized during a ceremony.

"I'm happy and sad at the same time because it's coming to an end, but it always felt great," Sheffey said. "I'm so happy that I was blessed to be able to represent the Lady Vols."

Sheffey, of Bellport, N.Y., had a winning time of 4 minutes, 19.14 seconds in the 1,500. She won the SEC title last year with a time of 4:25.75. Her personal-best is 4:18.74 in 2010.

Sheffey gave credit to the Lady Vols' Chanelle Price, who played the rabbit's role Saturday — setting a fast pace in the race before dropping out.

"I felt good," Sheffey said. "Thank God for the help from my teammate, Chanelle. We got out there and tried to get off to a good start. My time is coming down and hopefully it will continue to come down (the rest of the season)."

Sheffey, a member of the Lady Vols' two-time NCAA championship team in the distance medley relay, hopes to defend her SEC championship in the 1,500 May 10-13 in Baton Rouge, La.

She knows not to take anything for granted.

"You can be excited, happy, know that you're going to go out there and give it your best," Sheffey said, "but you never know what's going to happen, so never second-guess anyone else and always go out and give it your best every time."

Sheffey ran the first leg of the 3,200-meter relay. Elizabeth Altizer ran the second leg, followed by Kianna Ruff and anchor Brittney Jackson.

UT's Ellen Wortham, a senior from Maryville High School, won her third consecutive Sea Ray Relays title in the 400-meter hurdles.

Wortham tied a meet record with a time of 55.93 seconds, which is the NCAA's leading time for the 400 hurdles this spring season. She ran a 55.70 last season to win the SEC's 400-meter hurdles championship.

Wortham and Sheffey both won their events in the new "Sea Ray Showcase," which featured the meet's best races during a noon-to-2 p.m. time slot.

In other showcase events, Tennessee's Jamol James won the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.24 seconds; the Lady Vols' Kia Jackson won the 100-meter dash in 11.49 seconds; and Annie Alexander won her fourth consecutive Sea Ray title in the discus with a throw of 181 feet, 11 inches. Alexander's throw ranks fourth among NCAA competitors this spring.

Notebook: Wortham, who ran the first leg for the Lady Vols' winning 1600-meter relay team, was awarded the Tony Wilson Award signifying the meet's outstanding female runner for the second consecutive year. ... The Lady Vols' 400-meter relay team — Ashley Harris, Brittany Jones, Martinique Octave, and Jackson — won with a time of 44.44. Reigning NCAA champ Tim Glover of Illinois State set a Sea Ray Relays record in the javelin with a throw of 266 feet, 9 inches. UT's Terry Benson finished second in the men's 400-meter dash (51.79 seconds)