SHAUNETTE
DAVEY SPOTLIGHT5-2-03
Over the past several years, VCU's women's track and field team has been known more for its middle distance and distance runners, especially during the late 1990's with All-American Maria-Elena Calle and Beth Green. But a bevy of sprinters on this year's squad has changed that perception. At the CAA Track and Field Championships in April, VCU sprinters and hurdlers accounted for 73 of the Rams' 121 total points. The Rams finished in third place behind William & Mary and George Mason for the best team finish since VCU joined the CAA in 1995-96.
Leading the way in the sprint events was senior Shaunette Davey (Alexandria, Va./Thomas Edison), who had the type of meet athletes dream of. She set three school records while taking first in the 200 meters and second in the 100 and 400 meters, accounting for 39 points in individual and relay events. Davey and her teammates LaShay Garland (Danville, Va./George Washington), Katrina Cromwell (Goochland, Va./Goochland) and Courtney Green (Caroline, Va./Caroline) took second in the 4x100-meter relay and fourth in the 4x400-meter relay, demonstrating depth in the sprint events that has been absent at VCU.
Breaking three school records on the same day is something Davey won't soon forget. "It was amazing," she said. "My family was there, and my teammates were so supportive. It was just awesome, unbelievable.
"I'm really proud of myself [for setting the records]. I worked really hard, especially after being injured earlier in the season. My teammates kept pushing me hard, and my coaches kept telling me I could do it. Records were meant to be broken, and I'm proud that my name will be the one people will be chasing. It's great to be a part of history."
Davey and her relay mates are making history as well with their success as a unit and individually. "In the past, VCU has been known as more of a cross country team, and we've turned it around to focus on the sprints," Davey said. "People are starting to know who we are and that we have good sprinters when we go to meets. I feel a part of something great here and it's an honor to help build [a strong program] from the start."
Davey began her college career at Old Dominion, where they had a small walk-on track program that has since been cut. Initially she was hoping to play basketball there and track was an afterthought, but she credits coach Ellen Carpenter for getting her involved with running again. "One day during my freshman year I went down to the track and Coach Carpenter saw me," Davey said. "She helped me get in shape and regain my passion for track."
Despite being the only sprinter at ODU and training alone, she developed into one of the top sprinters in the CAA, placing third in the 200 meters at the CAA Championships in 2001. When she decided to transfer before her junior year, Davey, a pre-physical therapy major, found VCU and its ties to MCV attractive. "When looking for a school, academics was my main concern. I was thinking of the future more than track. When I visited VCU, I just clicked with the team better than the other places I visited."
With the number of good sprinters now at VCU, those lonely workouts running against a stopwatch at ODU are a distant memory for Davey. "Having good teammates has meant a lot to the success I've had this year," she said. "They help me and I help them, since we go out and really push each other in practice. It really makes a big difference. Plus, we have a couple of really good freshmen, and no one wants to get beaten by a freshman, so we work even harder.
"Every one of my teammates has helped me achieve my success. [The school records] may not say LaShay's or Katrina's names, but they are a big part of the records, too."
Davey also credits her coaches for creating the right atmosphere on the team that has nurtured a successful program. Current assistant coach Todd Morgan was the interim head coach last year, Davey's first year at VCU, before Dana Reif took over last fall as the full-time head coach. "Coach Morgan has been here since Day 1 for me, and I feel like I can go to him any time if I need to talk about track or anything," Davey said. "And Coach Reif has been a great addition. Some people think change is difficult, but it's been a really good thing for us. I like her style of coaching; she just gets the job done. [The coaches] laid down the law and gave us the workouts we needed, and everything just fell into place. I'm just thankful for that."
Although running keeps her busy, it is a small part of Davey's life at VCU. On top of her studies in physical therapy, Davey is president of the West Indian Student Union, a supervisor for intramural sports, volunteers at MCV's pediatric ER, and serves on the recreation sports advisory committee and the physical education department's student advisory board as a clinical exercise science representative. Her combination of student involvement and success on the track earned her the Michael Brown Award at this week's senior awards banquet. When asked how she juggles so many responsibilities, Davey revealed her secret: "It's all about time management!" she said with a laugh.
With finals wrapping up next week, Davey will turn her full attention to the track. She has four meets until the NCAA Regionals at George Mason, for which she has qualified in the 200 and 400 meters, and she hopes to help the 4x100-meter relay team reach the qualifying standard while also lowering her time in the 400. For the first time, the field for the NCAA meet will be determined by four regional meets, where the top five finishers in each event advance to the NCAA Championships. Davey could also qualify for nationals if her best time of the season is among the best eight times of those who did not qualify at regionals.
"I want to go to nationals in the 400," Davey said. "I don't know if my body will hold up that long, but I'd love to be out there in Sacramento."