March 9, 2009

WALTERS, DUNCAN, JOHNSON PERFORM WELL AT VIRGINIA TECH
Duncan misses school mark in shot put by a single centimeter

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The handful of Virginia Commonwealth University women’s track and field team members who made the trip to Virginia Tech over the weekend made sure they made the trip worthwhile.

Three individuals and a relay team all did well at the Last Chance meet, so dubbed because it affords athletes a final chance to qualify for the NCAA championship meet.

The Rams didn’t qualify anyone for that but they are getting closer every time out.

Senior Natalie Duncan (Alexandria, Va.) put the shot 13.09 meters, missing a school record by a mere centimeter (about ¼ of an inch).   Senior Verniece Johnson (Mineral, Va.) had a seasonal best of 5.96 meters in the long jump, only 5 centimeters off her school record.  In the 800 meters, freshman Nicole Walters (Orange, Va.) finished in 2 minutes, 18.14 seconds for the third fastest time in school history.

Johnson, sophomore Quina Fortune (New Orleans, La.), freshman Rachel Montague (Marlton, N.J.) and junior Whitney Key (Goochland, Va.) combined to run a 3:57.23 in the 4x400 relay, the second fastest time in school history.

“Nicole, Natalie and Verniece had huge days for us as individuals,” assistant coach Ethan Tussing said.  “Natalie set a personal record again in the final indoor meet of her career.  It has been our goal this season to make an assault on this record and we inched closer and closer to it every week.  It’s difficult to end just a quarter of an inch away from that goal but she still had a great indoor season filled with PRs and consistency.  She is ready to do more outdoors.

“Nicole Walters had the day of her life, improving by nearly two seconds in the 800.  She had shown in practice she was ready for this kind of result and I’m glad she was able to capture it on the track.  Verniece continues to jump well, showing great consistency with far jumps this season.  I think all three of these ladies set themselves up for bigger and better things outdoors this year.”