JOHNSON FINISHES INDOOR SEASON WITH RECORD-BREAKING SHOWING
Sophomore becomes first Ram to clear 6-meter mark
Results
BLACKSBURG, Va. – Sophomore Verniece Johnson (Mineral, Va./Louisa) finished the indoor season with a highlight-reel showing as the Virginia Commonwealth University women’s track and field closed out the 2006-2007 indoor season at the Virginia Tech Last Chance Invitational this past weekend.
Johnson had three top eight performances, keyed by a school-record setting leap in the long jump with a length of 19’ 8 ¾”. Johnson is the first Ram in the program’s history to clear the six-meter mark in the event. The jump placed the sophomore fourth overall at the meet.
She was not done in the field as she picked up a seventh-place finish and a season best in the triple jump with a mark of 36’ 11 ½”. Johnson starred on the track as well, as she picked up her third personal best of the weekend with a time of 25.55 in the 200-meter dash.
Johnson led a strong weekend by the sophomore class as junior Danielle Williams (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) (pictured) and sophomore Whitney Key (Goochland, Va./Goochland) each posted personal bests at the competition. Williams’ time of 2:20.61 in the 800-meter marked her best time and Key set a career-best with a time of 26.10 in the 200-meter dash.
The veterans chipped in as well as seniors Ashley Rogers (Chesapeake, Va./Deep Creek) and Reagan Merriam (Fredericksburg, Va./Massaponax) also had strong showings for the Black and Gold. Rogers finished fourth in the shot put with a toss of 46’ 6 ¼” and Merriam picked up the Rams’ lone win of the meet with a time of 10:55.06 in the 3000-meter run.
The Rams now look forward to the 2006-2007 outdoor season, which starts on March 16-17 at the Coastal Carolina Invitational in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
TEAM EFFORT LEADS RAMS TO STRONG SHOWING AT VIRGINIA TECH INVITATIONAL
Black and Gold post nine personal bests at highly-talented meet
Results
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Commonwealth University women’s track and field team took the motto, “there is no I in team” to heart this weekend as the Rams used a team effort to post one of their strongest showings of the season at the Virginia Tech Invitational.
“In a talented field, our athletes really stepped up this weekend,” Interim Head Coach Tom Black said. “We received a great effort in every area, a balanced meet from top to bottom.”
The Black and Gold got strong efforts in every area of competition as nine personal bests were posted in various events, led by the young trio of sophomore Verniece Johnson (Mineral, Va./Louisa), sophomore Whitney Key (Goochland, Va./Goochland) and freshman Jessica Martin ( Glade Hill, Va./Franklin County) in the 200-meter dash who all posted a personal best in the event.
Johnson posted the highest finish by a Ram at the meet as she finished fourth in the long jump as the sophomore eclipsed the 19’ mark with a leap of 19’ ½”, her second personal best of the meet.
Senior Nikki Arrington ( Richmond, Va. /Univ. of Mary Washington (Midlothian)) led the individual efforts for VCU as the veteran set a school record in the weight throw as her toss of 53’ 5 ¾” broke the previous record of 53’ 3” set by Jolinda Smithson in 2001. Arrington’s effort placed her fifth among a talent-laden field.
Senior Regan Merriam (Fredericksburg, Va./Massaponax) led the distance events for the second consecutive meet posting a second straight personal best in the 5000-meter with a time of 18:52.80.
The Rams return to the track next weekend as they travel to the George Mason Invitational on Saturday.
RAMS POST STRONG SHOWING AMONG TALENT-LADEN UNC INVITATIONAL
Black and Gold post one of best showings of season
2-5-07
Results
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” It’s a saying that all of us have heard since our early childhood. The Virginia Commonwealth University women’s track and field program took it to heart as the squad had one of their top showings of the year at the talent-laden field at the University of North Carolina Invitational this past weekend.
Senior Regan Merriam (Fredericksburg, Va./Massaponax) picked up the veteran leadership role this week for the Black and Gold as she posted one of the Rams’ two personal bests at the UNC Invitational with a time of 19:01.04 in the 5000-meter run.
Sophomore Libby Little ( Spotsylvania, Va. / Courtland) garnered the other personal best for the Black and Gold with a time of 11:08.19 in the 3000-meter run.
In the field, senior Ashley Rogers (Chesapeake, Va./Deep Creek) posted a season-best in the shot put as the veteran’s toss of 41’ 5” to gather a seventh-place finish.
The highest finisher on the day for the Rams was sophomore Verniece Johnson (Mineral, Va./Louisa) with a fourth-place finish in the long jump. The second-year standout leaped 18’ 4 ½” to grab the fourth slot.
The Black and Gold look to continue their strong showings on February 16-17 as they participate in the Virginia Tech Challenge in Blacksburg, Va.
RAMS FLEX MUSCLE IN FIELD EVENTS AT CNU INVITATIONAL
Moore, Arrington, Rogers all pick up wins for the Black and Gold
1-29-07
Results
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Virginia Commonwealth University women’s track and field team flexed their muscle in the field events this past weekend as the Rams captured three wins in the field, four overall at the Christopher Newport University Captain’s Invitational.
Seniors Nikki Arrington (Richmond, Va. /Midlothian (Univ. of Mary Washington)) and Ashley Rogers (Chesapeake, Va. / Deep Creek) led the Black and Gold in the throws as Arrington garnered top honors in the weight throw and Rogers topped her competitors in the shot put. Arrington bested her competitors by nearly over five feet with a toss of 47’ 8”.
Rogers led a stable of Rams in the shot put as the Black and Gold took four of the top five spots in the event. Rogers’ throw of 40’ 7 3/4” topped teammate Kira Hauser (Hillside, N.J. / Hillside) who finished second with a toss of 39’ 7 3/4”. Sophomore Natalie Duncan (Alexandria, Va. / West Potomac) and Teressa McCoy (Vienna, Va./Lake Braddock) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Junior Frankie Moore (Chesapeake, Va. / Great Bridge) captured VCU’s other victory in the field events as her leap of 5’ 4 1/2” earned her the top spot in the high jump.
Senior Regan Merriam (Fredericksburg, Va./Massaponax) won the Rams’ fourth event as the veteran clocked in with the best time in the 5000-meter run as she broke the tape in 19:33.10 for the victory.
Fellow senior Evan Bisharat (Midlothian, Va. / Midlothian) grabbed two top-five finishes as she grabbed the fourth-place slot in the one mile run and a fifth-place finish in the 800-meter run.
Sophomore Danielle Williams (Virginia Beach, Va. / Salem) also had a strong showing for the Black and Gold as she garnered two second-place finishes at the meet. Williams’ time of 1:42.00 in the 600-meter run placed her second and her time of 2:28.55 placed her second in the 800-meter run.
The Rams take to the track again next weekend as they travel to Chapel Hill, N.C. to participate in the North Carolina Invitational on Saturday.
JOHNSON’S WIN KEYS WOMEN’S TRACK AT NAVY INVITE
Sophomore leaps to win in the long jump
1-20-07
Results
RICHMOND, Va. – A leap from sophomore Verniece Johnson (Mineral, Va./Louisa) captured the only Rams’ victory as the Virginia Commonwealth University women’s track and field had a strong showing at the Navy Invitational on Saturday.
Johnson’s leap of 18’ 2 1/4” garnered the top spot in the long jump and the sophomore followed that up with a fifth place finish in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.85.
Veterans lead the rest of the squad as senior Ashley Rogers (Chesapeake, Va./Deep Creek) and junior Frankie Moore (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) posted top-three finishes for the Black and Gold. Rogers’ toss of 40’ 6” earned her a third place finish and Moore cleared 5’ 1” in the high jump to grab the second place slot.
Senior Regan Merriam (Fredericksburg, Va./Massaponax) was the leader of the distance runners at the meet as the veteran paced the Rams in all the distance events and earned the Black and Gold’s lone personal best of the day as she ran 10:47 in the 3000-meter run.
The Rams are back in action next weekend as they travel to Newport News, Va. for the Christopher Newport Pentathlon.
MOORE LEADS RAMS AT VIRGINIA TECH INVITATIONAL
BLACK AND GOLD RETURN TO TRACK FOR FIRST TIME SINCE BREAK
Results
BLACKSBURG, Va. – Junior Frankie Moore (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) lead the VCU women’s track and field team as the Black and Gold returned to the track at the Virginia Tech Invitational.
Moore led the way as the Rams returned to competition for the first time since the winter break. The junior was the highest finisher for the Black and Gold as she garnered a ninth place finish in the high jump as she cleared the 5’3” mark.
Sophomore Verniece Johnson (Mineral, Va./Louisa) also performed well for the Rams as she recorded a jump of 18’ 5” in the long jump and notched a time of 26.38 in the 200-meter dash.
The Rams return to the track next weekend as they travel to Annapolis, Md. for the Navy Invitational.
JOHNSON’S WIN KEYS RAMS PERFORMANCE AT CNU
Sophomore leaps to win in long jump
12-4-06
Results
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Sophomore Verniece Johnson (Mineral, Va./Louisa) started the season strong as she soared to a victory in the long jump at the Christopher Newport Holiday Open on Sunday afternoon in the Rams opening meet of the 2006-2007 season.
Johnson came up with the lone win for the Black and Gold as she bested her competitors with a leap of 18’ 7.75”. The sophomore’s effort was nearly a foot better than any of her competition.
The Black and Gold also had a strong performance in the field as the throwers had impressive efforts in the opening meet. Senior Ashley Rogers (Chesapeake, Va./Deep Creek) led a trio of Rams in the shot put as VCU took three of the top six spots in the event. Rogers finished third while freshman Theresa McCoy (Vienna, Va./Lake Braddock) finished fourth in her debut and junior Kira Hauser (Hillside, N.J./Hillside) finished sixth.
The Rams had a strong start to the 2006-2007 season as the young squad, which includes just six seniors and sixteen underclassmen, recorded eight different personal bests in the first meet of the young season.
BROWN EARNS CAA NOMINATION FOR WOMAN OF THE YEAR
9-14-06
RICHMOND, Va.- Former track star Tanika Brown (Powhatan, Va./ Powhatan) earned high honors recently, as the VCU grad was one of only two Colonial Athletic Association female athletes to receive a nomination for 2006 NCAA Woman of the Year. The award is presented annually to a senior student-athlete who has distinguished herself throughout her collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.
The former Ram graduated in May with a Bachelors of Science degree in psychology earning Cum Laude honors with a cumulative grade point average of 3.4. Brown earned Dean’s list honors in three semesters, while earning the Athletic Director’s Award in six semesters and the Commissioners Award on two occasions. On top of all of her academic achievement, she served as a peer mentor in the Academic Advising office for freshman student-athletes at VCU.
Brown received numerous accolades throughout her career, beginning in 2003 when she earned her first of three CAA high jump titles, was named CAA Rookie of the Year and earned top honors in the high jump at the NCAA East Region meet advancing to the NCAA Championship at which she tied for 20th place.
Brown would later earn both the indoor (5’10.75”) and outdoor (6’00”) high jump records at VCU as well as make three more NCAA regional appearances. The high jump veteran became the only Ram under head coach Dena Reif’s reign to make four consecutive NCAA appearances.
BROWN CONCLUDES NOTABLE TRACK CAREER AT NCAA EAST REGIONAL
5-28-06
Results
GREENSBORO, N.C.- Virginia Commonwealth University high jump specialist Tanika Brown (Powhatan, Va./ Powhatan) was unable to clear the opening height of 5’7.25” this weekend, making the NCAA East Regional the last meet of her brilliant run in a Ram uniform.
Brown received numerous accolades throughout her career, beginning in 2003 when she earned her first of three CAA high jump titles, was named CAA Rookie of the Year and earned top honors in the high jump at the NCAA East Region meet advancing to the NCAA Championship at which she tied for 20th place.
Brown would later earn both the indoor (5’10.75”) and outdoor (6’00”) high jump records at VCU as well as make three more NCAA regional appearances. The high jump veteran became the only Ram under head coach Dena Reif’s reign to make four consecutive NCAA appearances.
Lavern Spencer of Georgia finished first in the event at the NCAA East Region competition with a mark of 5’11.25”.
Brown graduated last Saturday with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
BROWN GEARS UP FOR EAST REGIONAL
5-25-06
Greensboro, N.C.- Virginia Commonwealth University women’s track and field standout Tanika Brown (Powhatan, Va./ Powhatan) will compete in the high jump at the NCAA East Regional meet tomorrow evening. Brown enters the meet ranked 17th in the event among a field of 27 athletes.
This is the senior’s fourth consecutive NCAA Regional appearance. In her NCAA Regional debut in 2003, Brown brought home the East Region title in the high jump. Her sophomore year she advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and tied for 20th place. Last year, Brown was one of five Rams to qualify for the NCAA East Region Track meet.
Brown captured her third Colonial Athletic Association high jump title this season and enters the meet with a season best height of 5’8.75”.
Brown is set to take the field at 5 pm on the Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T to compete her final NCAA East Region contest.
BROWN COMPETES IN FINAL TUNE-UP PRIOR TO NCAA EAST REGION MEET
5-15-06
Results
ATLANTA Ga. - Virginia Commonwealth University women’s track and field stand out Tanika Brown (Powhatan, Va./ Powhatan) (pictured) competed at the Georgia Tech Invitational in her final tune-up prior to heading to the NCAA East Region meet to be held May 26-27.
Brown tied for second place with two competitors in the high jump after posting a mark of 5’07”. In two weeks the senior will head to Greensboro, NC to compete make her fourth and final NCAA Regional appearance.
Senior Courtney Green (Hanover, Va./ Caroline) also traveled to Atlanta to participate in the Georgia Tech Invitational. In her final run in the Black and Gold, Green turned in a 12.20 in the 100m dash.
RAMS MAKE APPEARANCE AT PENN RELAYS
5-1-06
Results
PHILADELPHIA , Pa. – The Virginia Commonwealth University women’s track team traveled to Philadelphia, Pa., this past weekend to make an appearance at the prestigious 112th Penn Relays.
The 4x200m relay team consisting of Courtney Green (Hanover, Va./ Caroline), Verniece Johnson (Mineral, Va./ Louisa), Sheemeca Berkley (Madison Heights, Va./ Amherst County), and Erica Banks (Hampton, Va./ Bethel) earned a 34th place finish out of 62 teams competing in the event. Johnson also competed in the Eastern Division of the women’s triple jump in which she earned a 26th place finish.
Tanika Brown (Powhatan, Va./ Powhatan) (pictured), who earned her second-consecutive Colonial Athletic Association high jump title last weekend, tied for eighth place in the high jump. Brown posted a mark of 5’7.25” of which she shared with Shaunette Davidson of Louisiana State.
Lauren Stewart (Richmond, Va./ Governor’s School) posted a mark of 10’11.75” in the pole vault while senior Brandy Butler (Charlottesville, Va.) posted a mark of 35’7.75” in the triple jump.
The Rams return to action on May 13 when they head to Atlanta, Ga. to compete in the Georgia Tech Invitational.
BROWN EARNS SECOND CONSECUTIVE HIGH JUMP TITLE
Several athletes score for the Rams
4-22-06
Results
RICHMOND, Va. – Senior Tanika Brown ( Powhatan, Va./ Powhatan) finishes a brilliant track and field career by earning her second consecutive Colonial Athletic Association high jump title. Brown scored 14 points in the Rams’ 7 th place finish at the 2006 Outdoor Colonial Athletic Association Track and Field Championships.
Brown posted a mark of 5’08.75” to garner top honors in the high jump. She also finished as the Rams’ top scorer in the triple jump earning a fifth place finish after competing in the event for the first time this season.
Nikki Arrington ( Midlothian, Va./ Midlothian) was a bronze medalist in the discus throw after throwing a distance of 129’03”. The Midlothian native also earned fifth place in hammer after recording a mark of 144’08”.
Several other Rams placed within the top eight of multiple events. In the last conference championship of her career, senior Courtney Green ( Hanover, Va./ Caroline) tied for eighth place in the 100m dash.
Freshman Lindsay Holman ( Virginia Beach, Va./ Salem) had a good showing at the first outdoor championship of her collegiate career. Holman posted a personal best time of 1:03.83 and turned in a fifth place finish in the 400m hurdles.
In the horizontal jumps, Sheemeca Berkley ( Madison Heights, Va./ Amherst) posted a mark of 18’1.75” in the long jump and earned a seventh-place finish for the Rams. Berkley also scored in the triple jump after posting a mark of 37’02.25”. Senior Brandy Butler ( Charlottesville, Va./ Charlottesville) posted a mark of 36’11.75” to garner seventh-place honors in the triple jump for the Rams.
Sophomore Frankie Moore(Chesapeake, Va./ Great Bridge) tied for fourth place in the high jump and set a new outdoor personal best mark of 5'05".
Danielle Williams ( Virginia Beach, Va./ Salem) finished seventh in the 1500m run while classmate Erica Banks ( Hampton, Va./ Bethel) turned in an eighth-place finish in the 400m after clocking a season best time of 58.14.
VCU record holder Ashley Rogers ( Chesapeake, Va./ Deep Creek) earned eighth place in the shot put with a mark of 41’03”. Shakirrah Hauser ( Hillside, NJ/ Hillside) earned ninth place in the event.
Octavia James ( Newport News, Va./ ) posted a time of 14.88 in the 100m hurdles and earned an eighth place finish. Pia Ruth ( Rahway, NJ/ Linden) recorded a season best mark of 14.95 and finished ninth in the same event.
Lauren Stewart ( Richmond, Va./ Governor’s School) finished fifth of 11 competitors in the pole vault while Meghan Seay (Burke, Va./ Lake Braddock) was the only heptathlon competitor in a Ram uniform and finished eighth in the event.
The Rams’ 1600m relay team finished seventh overall and recorded a time of 3:59.11. Also for the Rams, Emily Thompson ( Crozet, Va./ Western Albemarle) came one place shy of scoring for the Rams in the 3000m steeplechase. Thompson crossed the line in 11:39.47.
Results
1) College of William & Mary 174.50
2) Northeastern 129.50
3) UNC Wilmington
4) James Madison 112
5) George Mason 75.50
6) Georgia State 74
7) VCU 53
8) Delaware 41
9) Towson 37
RAMS COMPLETE DAY ONE OF CAA TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP
4-21-06
Day One Results
RICHMOND, Va. - The Colonial Athletic Association Outdoor Track and Field Championships went on despite weather delays at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Sports Backers Stadium on Friday.
Megan Seay( Burke, Va./ Lake Braddock) stands eighth in heptathlon standings after four events. The sophomore posted a time of 16.29 in the 100m hurdles and finished 6 th of 13 competitors in the event. In the high jump, Seay recorded a height of 5’03” and tied for 4 th place with Christine Nicewonger of James Madison.
Sheemeca Berkley ( Madison Heights, Va./ Amherst) posted a mark of 18’1.75” in the long jump and earned a seventh place finish for the Rams. Berkely is set to compete in the triple jump as well as in the 400m relay on the final day of the track and field championship meet.
Day two of the CAA Championship begins Saturday at 9 a.m.
The meet is being held at VCU’s SportsBackers Stadium. Tickets are still available.
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