Meet: Carolina Challenge 

Location: Columbia, S.C.

Results:  Carolina Challenge

The Short Story: After a standout team performance at the VMI Team Challenge that featured three first place victories and numerous PRs, VCU's Men's Track & Field teams had their sights set on another successful weekend at the Carolina Challenge on Friday and Saturday.

Of the eight top-10 finishes and 11 PRs that VCU accrued, junior Ebenezer Belayneh secured two for the Black and Gold. The thrower from Alexandria, Va. placed first in the men's open weight throw and fourth in the men's invite for shot put over the weekend, securing personal bests in both events. 

Belayneh success at the Carolina Indoor Complex marks immense improvement for the junior. His heave of 16.43 in the weight throw is a 1.02-meter improvement from his previous personal best at the Nittany Lion Challenge Jan. 11. The thrower's off-season work ethic can, in part, be attributed to his recent accomplishments. 

"Ebenezer spent the summer in the weight room this year and really made some great strides with his strength," Throws Coach Ethan Tussing explained. "We are starting to see that commitment and sacrifice pay off in his results. We have high expectations for Ebenezer and are excited to see him continue to progress towards bigger throws and potential conference medals."

THROWS 

• In his sophomore campaign, Jaekob Vollbrecht has had several top-five showings for the Rams. The Spotsylvania, Va. native placed second in the men's open weight throw and third in the men's invite for shot put at the Carolina Challenge
• Junior Willie Schwartz, who also represented VCU in the weight throw, finished fourth in the men's invite for this event 
• Junior thrower Glen Yancey placed ninth in the men's invite for shot put and earned a personal best in the event as well 

DISTANCE

• In the 800-meter race, Freshman Jared Knight finished sixth and secured a PR of 1:53.78. Fellow freshman Corey Bannister PRed in the event as well 

SPRINTS/HURDLES

• In one of his best events throughout the indoor season, senior Ian Davis finished sixth in the 60-meter hurdles invite
• Representing the men's sprinters for VCU, freshman Johnathan Mitchell and senior Ian Davis recorded PRs in the 200-meter race
• Freshman Noah Hackerson (49.14), along with Mitchell (49.37), earned a personal record in the 400-meter

JUMPS

• Camron Browne, a junior from Virginia Beach, PRed in the long jump
• In the triple jump, freshman Mohamad Abdelrahman posted a personal best for the Rams 

 What's Next

On Sunday, Feb. 9, VCU will travel to Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va. to compete in the Vince Brown Invitational.