Monday, July 24, 2017
by Alaska Anchorage Athletic Communications

GROSSETO, Italy – Alaska Anchorage track and field sophomore-to-be Vanessa Aniteye continued her impressive summer on the European circuit this weekend, helping Germany to a silver medal in the 4x400-meter relay at the 2017 European Under-20 Track & Field Championships.

The reigning Great Northwest Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year, Aniteye raced the lead-off leg in both the semifinals and finals, starting with a lap of 55.1 seconds in Saturday’s (July 22)  qualifying round to help Germany win its heat in 3:38.56.

In Sunday’s finals (July 23), the Hamburg native blazed to a time of 54.2 seconds to stake the Germans to second place and 1.2-second lead over eventual bronze medalists Great Britain, who they edged 3:33.08 to 3:33.68. Ukraine won the gold in 3:32.82, the best time in the world this season at the under-20 level.

On June 18, Aniteye ran a personal-best 53.69 seconds in the open 400 meters at the German Under-23 Track & Field Championships in Leverkusen, Germany.

The summer season has been an extension of a great first-year campaign for Aniteye. She earned the GNAC Freshman of the Year honors after winning the 400 meters at the GNAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a time of 54.88 seconds. Aniteye also ran the anchor leg on both the Seawolves' winning 4x100-meter relay team and conference runner-up 4x400-meter relay team.