15 top-10 finishers pace successful performance at Virginia Challenge
Junior distance runner Ashley Brown placed fourth in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:13.13. CT file photo
Ryan Grube, Contributing Writer
Track and Field battled tough weather conditions Friday, but the team was able to bounce back Saturday, recording 15 top-10 finishers to close out the Virginia Challenge April 19-20 in Charlottesville.
Women’s
Even though they didn’t score in Friday’s early field events, the Rams were quick to the podium when it was time to hit the track.
Freshman mid-distance runner Chanelle Hodges got things going for the Black and Gold with a first place victory in the 400-meter with a time of 55.59.
Junior distance runner Ashley Brown continued VCU’s hot stretch from there. Brown delivered a fourth place finish in the 800, crossing the line with a time of 2:13.13.
After events were suspended Friday, senior thrower Camora Sanders kicked off Saturday with a 10th place effort in the shot put. She launched a toss of 15.04 meters to crack the top 10.
Sophomore jumper Aliyah Newman added a ninth place finish in triple jump, posting 12.36 meters.
Men’s
Like the Women, the Men were unable to place in the top 10 in the opening day field events.
Later on, junior sprinter Chukwuezugo Aguolu completed a team sweep of Saturday’s 400-meter with another first place finish for the Rams, finishing with a time of 48.19.
Redshirt-senior sprinter Nicholas Buckingham added a sixth place finish in the event, clocking in a time of 49.26.
Senior jumper Bashir Idris put the Rams on the board in Saturday’s field events with a 7.45-meter leap to take home fourth place in the long jump. Idris also finished sixth in the triple jump invite, recording 14.87 meters.
The 110-meter saw junior sprinter Ian Davis take fifth place with a time of 14.08.
Freshman hurdler Sebastian Evans crossed the line with a time of 55.70, contributing a fourth place finish in the 400.
Freshman hurdler Emmanuel Waller added an eighth place effort in the 400 with a 53.59 mark.
Track and Field makes its way the Atlantic 10 Outdoor Championships May 4-5 at the UMass.
