Feb. 2, 2009

RAMS LOOK STRONG AT PATRIOT GAMES
Johnson wins long jump, anchors winning relay

FAIRFAX, Va. – The Virginia Commonwealth University women’s track team continues to make progress at a rapid rate under first-year head coach Jon Riley.   The Rams had a number of excellent showings at the Patriot Games over the weekend at George Mason University.

“I was very proud of our efforts,” Riley said.  “We did some really good things this weekend. I have all the confidence that this group of young ladies will continue to improve.”

Senior Verniece Johnson (Mineral, Va.) was the winner of the long jump and anchored the winning 4x400 meter relay team that also included freshman Jazlynn Finney (Leesburg, Va.), junior Whitney Key (Goochland, Va.) and freshman Rachel Montague (Marlton, N.J.).  The team won in 3 minutes, 57.39 seconds – the second fastest time in school history.  Johnson’s winning leap in the long jump covered 5.73 meters - .34-meter better than anyone else.   Finney was third in that event at 5.33 meters.

Freshman Allison Morris (Langhorn, Pa.) was runner-up in the high jump with a leap of 1.60 meters.

“I am very proud of both Verniece and Allison,” Riley said.  “They are battling leg injuries and I commend them for jumping the way they did.”

The 4x800 meter relay team of  freshman Nicole Walters (Orange, Va.), freshman Aubree Washington (Woodbridge, Va.), freshman Heather DelaCruz (Williamsburg, Va.) and sophomore Cassandra Thondique (Norfolk, Va.) finished third and set a school record with a time of 9:48.13.

Senior Natalie Duncan (Alexandria, Va.) was third in the shot put at 12.88 meters.  “We expect big things from our captain,” Riley said.  Freshman Samantha Mosley (Farmville, Va.) was fifth in the event at 11.86 meters.

Sophomore Stephanie Newing (Virginia Beach, Va.) finished in a tie for fifth in the pole vault at 3.00 meters.   Montague was fifth in the triple jump at 10.96 meters.   In the 60-meter hurdles, Montague finished fifth with a personal record of 9.08 seconds. Junior Sernarra Archie (Winston-Salem, N.C.) was sixth at 9.34.

The team competes again Feb. 6-7 in the Armory New Balance Invitational in New York.  Some members will also compete on Feb. 7 in the CNU Vince Brown Invitational in Newport News, Va.