Meet: Black & Gold Invitational
Location: Orlando, Fla. (UCF)
 
The short story: VCU's 4x400 squad ran one of the nation's fastest races this year, while senior John Casper established a new personal-best in the hammer to lead a small group of VCU competitors in the season-opening Black and Gold Invitational.
 
THROWS

• Casper, a York, Pa. native, tossed the discus 50.73 meters on the way to a fourth-place finish in the event, tops on the team. Casper also threw a personal-best 56.62 in the hammer
• Freshman Shinobu Hawk threw 47.83 in his first college discus competition
• Freshman Diego Turner was the Rams' top finisher in the shot put, recording a mark of 15.33 meters. Hawk also threw 15.12 in the event

SPRINTS

• VCU's 4x400 relay team of freshmen Jude Okafor and Chanan Mathis, junior Kacey Pratt and senior Lewis Freeman combined to clock 3:11.49 to place second. It's the ninth-fastest time in the East Region and the 14th-best in the nation this spring
• Junior Marcus Wilson set a new personal record in the 110 hurdles, clocking 14.41

NEXT UP
VCU will travel back to Richmond to compete at the Fred Hardy Invitational March 22-23. Several Rams will also travel to Charlottesville, Va. for UVA's Virginia Open March 23.