Meet: Brant Tolsma Invitational 
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Liberty Indoor Track Complex)
 
The short story: The freshmen continued to shine for the Black and Gold, as Christian Hallums and Marcus Acheampong both earned historic marks for the Rams in their respective events. 
 
SPRINTS:

• Hallums posted the best time for the Rams in the 200-meter dash, as his mark of 21.85 garnered him an eighth-place finish in a field consisting of 80 entries. The freshman's time moves him into a tie for ninth best in school history with former Ram Kacey Pratt, who notched the same time in 2023. Hallums' time is also good for the fifth best mark in the Atlantic 10 conference through the early 2025 indoor season. 
• In the 60-meter dash, Hallums recorded a time of 7.05, just shy of his personal best mark of 7.03. Fellow Ram Jordan Davis finished on Hallums' heels, as the sophomore notched a time of 7.08

HURDLES:

• Acheampong earned a first-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles with a mark of 8.11. This time sets a new personal best for Acheampong, as well as notching the fifth best time in the 60 hurdles in school history. His time is tied for the best in the A-10 through the early 2025 indoor season as well  

RELAYS:

• The 4x400 relay team, consisting of Acheampong, Jayden Hines, Kiwan Williams, and Hallums earned second in the event, posting a time of 3:18.25 

DISTANCE:

• Cole Dawson notched the premier time for the Rams in the 3000-meter race, as his mark of 8:42.71 earned himself 16th in the event
• Redshirt Junior Julian Lawson set a new personal best in the 3000 with a time of 8:55.61, besting his previous record of 8:58.43
• In the 800-meter race, redshirt freshman Thomas Hess finished fourth in a field that consisted of 47 entries 

JUMPS:

• In the Long Jump, Philip Daniel set the 10th best mark in school history as he also recorded a new personal best of 7.12 meters to earn fifth in the event. His previous best mark was 6.87 meters
• David Coles earned a third-place finish in the triple jump with a mark of 14.98 meters. The senior also earned seventh in the long jump with a distance of 7.11 meters
• The best mark in the triple jump for the Black and Gold came from Isaiah-Taji Kargbo-Owens, as the sophomore jumped 14.99 meters to earn second in the event. Kargbo-Owens also recorded a new personal best in the long jump
• In his first time competing in the high jump as a collegiate athlete, freshman Jeremiah Johnson notched a fourth-place finish with a height of 2.01 meters 

THROWS:

• Sophomore Diego Turner threw 15.01 meters in the shot put, earning the best mark for the Black and Gold. Turner finished seventh for the Rams in the finals as well
• Sophomore Shinobu Hawk set a new personal best in the weight throw as well

Quote:
"Our veteran men's jumpers had an outstanding weekend. Our freshmen are following their lead and are stepping up every week as well. We are going to keep working and stay focused on improving throughout the season, building better performances and team results." – Head Coach Jon Riley
 
Next Up
VCU next travels to Fairfax, Va. where they will compete in the Patriot Games hosted by George Mason. The meet will take place on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 31-Feb. 1.