RICHMOND, Va. – Five VCU athletes including Lauryn Taylor, Lauryn Freeman, Syvanna Metcalfe, Makayla McGowan, and Courtney Higgins have earned All-State Second Team selections VaSID (Virginia Sports Information Directors) announced Thursday. 
 
In her freshman season Taylor claimed gold medals while setting personal records at the Atlantic 10 championships in the 100m (11.64) and the 200m (23.84). Throughout the 2021 season she recorded seven top-three finishes. 
 
Freeman set a school record in the 100 hurdles with her time of 13.84 at the USF Invitational; a time that ranks 5th overall in the Atlantic 10. 
 
Metcalfe recorded a fourth place finish in the Atlantic 10 conference championships as well as two sixth place finishes. She also set personal records in both the 100H (14.16) and the 400H (1:00.62). 
 
McGowan earned gold at the Atlantic 10 Championships in the shot put (15.21m) and silver in the discus (45.67m). Set a personal record in the hammer throw at 51.54m. While her season best discus throw reached a distance of 48.04m.
 
Higgins set a school record in the heptathlon with her gold medal performance at the Atlantic Championships when she tallied a total of 5032 points. In three heptathlon appearances this season, Higgins recorded two wins and one third-place finish.
 
The Rams won their third Atlantic 10 Championship in 2021.