January 26, 2009

MUTISYA RETURNS TO TRACK FOR THIRD-PLACE FINISH AT HAMPTON INVITE
Junior returns from nagging injuries with strong showing
Full Results

HAMPTON, Va. – Junior Stephen Mutisya (Machakos, Kenya) had a tough fall semester, battling nagging injuries throughout the 2008 cross country season and still was one of the Virginia Commonwealth University’s most talented runners.

Finally healthy, Mutisya returned to the track this past weekend and proved just how vital he is to the VCU men’s track and field program as the veteran led the Rams’ effort at the Hampton Invitational with a third-place finish in the one-mile run, posting a time of 4:22.20.

As a team, the Black and Gold posted four top-10 finishes at an event that displayed some of the best talent on the East Coast.

Freshman Ronnie Black (Newport News, Va.) had a stellar debut for the Rams with a sixth-place showing in the high jump, clearing 6’ 6”.

VCU continued its strong day in the jumps by taking seventh and eighth place in the long jump thanks to the sophomore tandem of Antonio Norvell (Portsmouth, Va.) and Brandon Allen (Trenton, N.J.). Norvell leaped 23’ 2 ¾”, while Allen finished just behind him with a mark of 22’ 7 ¼”.

The Black and Gold return to action next weekend as they travel westward to participate in the East Tennessee State Invitational on Friday, January 30th and Saturday, January 31st.