RAMS READY TO SOAR TO NEW HEIGHTS
1.19.06

RICHMOND, Va. - The VCU Women’s Track team returns nine scorers from last year’s Colonial Athletic Association Championship Meet where the Rams finished seventh. The Rams also return three school record holders in throwers Nikki Arrington (Richmond, Va./Manchester) and Ashley Rogers (Chesapeake, Va./Deep Creek) and vaulter Lauren Stewart (Richmond, Va./Maggie Walker Governor’s School).

The Rams are led by interim head coach Tom Black, who brings expertise in sprints, jumps, and vaults. He is in his eighth season with the VCU Women’s Track program, the last two as an assistant. Black is joined by second-year assistant coach and throws expert Ayanna Jones, a graduate of William and Mary. Jones recorded CAA titles in throws events from 2001 to 2004.  

Throws

VCU returns three throwing scorers from the 2006 CAA Championship Meet. Arrington holds the VCU record in the discus with 135’. She placed third in last year’s CAA Championship with a throw of 129’03”. She is joined by Rogers, the VCU shot put record holder with a throw of 42’06” at the Mason Spring Open last season.

Jumps

The Black and Gold can look to junior Sheemeca Berkley (Madison Heights, Va./Amherst County) to score for them in the jumps this year. Last season she placed seventh in the long jump at the CAA Championships. She jumped a personal best of 18’10.75” last season at the Asics Duke Invitational.

Sprints

The Rams welcome back junior Erica Banks (Hampton, Va./Bethel), an eighth place finisher in the 400m at the CAA Championships. Berkley also participates in the sprints, posting a season best 12.55 in the 100m at the Asics Duke Invitatational and a 26.59 in the 200m at the Ram Invitational. 

Hurdles/Mid-Distance

Sophomore Lindsay Holman (Salem, Va./Salem) leads the Ram hurdlers after scoring a fifth place finish at the CAA Championships last spring. Her time of 1:03.83 was a personal best. Junior Danielle Williams (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) steadily improved her times last season in the 800m and 1500m, culminating in a seventh place finish in the 1500m at the CAA Championships.

Multi-Event/Vault

Meghan Seay (Burke, Va./Lake Braddock) returns for the Rams in the heptathlon. The junior was the only Ram to participate in the heptathlon at the CAA Championships, coming away with an eighth place finish. Lauren Stewart set the VCU record in the pole vault at the Fred Hardy Invitational with a vault of 11’05.75”. Stewart finished fifth at the CAA Championships.