Meet: Kenneth Giles Invitational
Location: Virginia Beach, Va. (Virginia Beach Sports Center)
Full Results (PDF)
 
The Short Story: Junior Lauryn Freeman broke VCU's school record in the 60-meter hurdles to lead the Rams at the Kenneth Giles Invitational over the weekend.
 
SPRINTS/HURDLES

• After qualifying in fourth, Lauryn Freeman clocked 8.49 in the final to take the win and break VCU's previous record of 8.57. Freeman now holds school records in both the 60-meter hurdles and 100-meter hurdles. Her time is the fastest in the Atlantic 10 this season
• Junior SyVanna Metcalfe ran 8.87 in the prelims of the event
• Sophomore Lauryn Taylor ran a time of 24.58 in the 200 to place eighth
• The Rams had a strong showing in the 400, led by sophomore Simone Pierre. Pierre collected runner-up honors with a time of 58.04, while sophomore Karah Moore placed sixth in 59.65. Sophomore Nia McMillan placed eighth
• Junior Yasmine Silmon ran a personal best of 1:17.07 in the 500 to place seventh. Her time currently sits in sixth in the conference
• Senior Jessica Tucker ran 7.80 in the semifinals of the 60, finishing eighth
• The Rams' 4x400 team of Moore, Silmon, Pierre, and Metcalfe placed fourth with a time of 3:51.58

 
JUMPS

• Sophomore Raquel Hawkins and senior Amari Jackson both jumped 11.91m to tie for fifth place in the triple jump. The mark, which sits fourth in the conference, is an indoor personal best for Jackson. Freshman Sydney Carr placed eighth with a personal best mark of 11.73m. Her marks sits behind Hawkins and Jackson at fifth in the conference
• Senior Courtney Higgins and freshman Nayome Shipp tied for third place in the high jump, while junior Khaila Lyons placed seventh

 
THROWS

• Freshman Gudrun Hallgrimsdottir continued her stellar freshman campaign with a second-place finish in the weight throw, recording an 18.22m toss. The mark bettered her No. 2 all-time mark at VCU and currently ranks fourth in the conference. It was her first time breaking the 18-meter barrier in the event
• Senior Makayla McGowan (17.71m) and sophomore Eryn Byrd (15.27m) placed third and eighth, respectively, in the event
• The Rams' throwers returned Saturday with a strong showing in the shot put. Byrd won the event, recording a 14.76m throw, and McGowan (14.44m) and senior Shannon Moise (13.56m) placed second and fourth, respectively

 
DISTANCE

• Sophomore Kristen Wheatley finished third in the 5000 

 
UP NEXT
VCU travels to Fairfax, Va. for the Atlantic 10 Indoor Championships hosted by George Mason. The meet begins Saturday, Feb. 26.