Meet: VCU Rams Indoor Invitational
Location: Virginia Beach, Va.
Full Results
 
The Short Story: Freshmen Kaitlyn Baker (pole vault), Chelsea Davis (triple jump), and Ava Miller (800-meter run) won events in their first collegiate track & field meet to spearhead the Rams' season-opening effort as host of the Rams Indoor Invitational in Virginia Beach.
 
SPRINTS

• Junior Lauryn Taylor took runner-up honors in the 300-meter dash with a blistering time of 40.33 seconds. Freshman Kayelyn Tate also stood out in the event, coming home fourth in 41.09 seconds
• Junior Karah Moore was the top Ram in the 500-meter run, finishing in a time of 1:17.80. Freshman Jaylin Pate (1:22.21) and junior Simone Pierre (1:22.30) came through in sixth and seventh respectively

 
HURDLES

• Senior Symone Foster took home second place in the 60-meter hurdles, sprinting and jumping her way to a time of 8.53 seconds. Foster's time is the best in the Atlantic 10 so far this season and puts her second overall in VCU history. Senior Lauryn Freeman also made the finals with a preliminary time of 8.66 seconds

 
DISTANCE

• Miller made a late surge to win the 800-meter run in a time of 2:23.83. Fellow freshman Jayanna Carroll was right behind her in second place, crossing the line in 2:26.40
• Redshirt freshman Lauren Tunnell shined in her return from an injury that sidelined her during cross country. Tunnell placed second in the 1000-meter run in a time of 3:02.33, and then followed that up with a third-place showing in the 3000-meter run, completing the distance in 10:41.61

 
JUMPS

• Baker started her collegiate career on a high note, winning the pole vault by clearing a height of 3.03 meters (9'-11.25")
• Davis claimed a victory of her own in the triple jump with a convincing mark of 11.96 meters (39'-3"). Davis leads the A-10 and is eighth all-time in VCU history in the event. Sophomores Sydney Carr (11.39 m/37'-4.5") and Megan Bozarth (10.90 meters/35'-9.25") finished second and fifth overall
• The Rams claimed second through fifth place in the high jump. Senior Dasia Mayo led the charge with a clearance of 1.67 meters (5'-5.75"). Sophomore Nayome Shipp (1.62m/5'-3.75"), junior Jaliah Channer (1.52m/4'-11.75"), and freshman Mariah Washington (1.47m/4'9.75") were third, fourth, and fifth in that order

THROWS

• Junior Eryn Byrd picked up where she left off last indoor season when she was the Atlantic 10's Most Outstanding Field Performer by finishing third in the weight throw, with a best throw of 17.46 meters (57'-3")
• Redshirt freshman Like Matalatala led the way in the shot put, making the finals and placing sixth with a best throw of 11.97 meters (39'-3.25")

 
UP NEXT
 
The VCU track & field team travels to Blacksburg, Va. for the Virginia Tech Invitational, a two-day meet that begins on Friday, Jan. 13 at 5 p.m.