Meet: Tom Jones Memorial
Location: Gainesville, Fla. (University of Florida)
 
The short story:  Freshmen Jude Okafor and Chanan Mathis turned in strong efforts in the 400-meter run and 4x400 relay for VCU at the prestigious Tom Jones Memorial Invitational at the University of Florida this weekend.
 
SPRINTS

• Okafor hit the tape in a personal-best 47.63 seconds in the 400 to claim sixth. Okafor run progressively faster in eight consecutive meets in the 400, dating back to indoor season. Mathis was close behind in 48.10
• Amid a loaded field, the 4x400 relay team of Okafor, Mathis, junior Kacey Pratt and senior Lewis Freeman ran a season-best 3:10.18. It's also the fastest 4x4 relay in the Atlantic 10 Conference this spring by more than four seconds 

Meet: JMU Invitational
Location: Harrisonburg, Va. (James Madison)
The short story:  The VCU duo of senior Darius Reed and sophomore Aubrey Bryant turned in impressive performances in the 100-meter dash at the JMU Invitational.
 
SPRINTS

• Reed crossed the finish line in a personal-best time of 10.65 seconds, the sixth-fastest in the A-10 this year. Bryant, meanwhile, ran a season-best 10.92
• Freshman Jaeden Cassell clocked a personal-best 49.23 seconds in the 400 

DISTANCE
Freshman Jaiden Lockhart set a personal-best 1:57.08 to take fifth in the 800
 
NEXT UP
VCU will send athletes to the Virginia Challenge in Charlottesville, Va., as well as to the New Captains Classic & Combined Events at in Newport News, Va. April 19-20.