Meet: VCU Final Qualifier
Location: Richmond, Va. (Sports Backers Stadium)
Final Results (PDF)
 
The short story: VCU turned in several personal bests and podium finishes at the final home meet of the season at Sports Backers Stadium. 
 
SPRINTS

• Sophomore Lauryn Taylor won the 100-meter dash in a season-best time of 11.65

 
THROWS

• The Rams swept the throwing events, led by seniors Makayla McGowan and Kayla Merkel and freshman standout Gudrun Hallgrimsdottir
• Hallgrimsdottir started the day for the Rams with a winning mark of 59.54m in the hammer throw
• McGowan won the shot put with a personal best toss of 15.25m. She also won the discus with a mark of 49.44m. Junior Jocelyn Midkiff followed in second in the discus, setting a season-best 46.17m mark
• Merkel launched a season-best 46.08m in the javelin for first in the event. Her mark ranks 42^nd in the NCAA East Region, as she currently sits in a qualifying position for the NCAA East Preliminary. Midkiff made her debut in the event, placing second with a mark of 36.00m

 
JUMPS

• Freshman Nayome Shipp cleared an outdoor personal best of 1.71m in the high jump to take first
• Sophomore Raquel Hawkins grabbed a runner-up finish in the triple jump with a mark of 11.81m

 
DISTANCE

• Freshman Lauren Tunnell placed third in the 1500 with a time of 4:35.77

 
NOTABLE

• Three Rams, McGowan (discus), Hallgrimsdottir (hammer throw), and Merkel (javelin) currently sit in qualifying positions for the NCAA East Preliminary. A final list of qualifiers will be released by NCAA later this week.

 
UP NEXT
The NCAA East Preliminary will take place from May 25 to May 28 at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. A live stream will be available via IUHoosiers.com.