Berkley earns Ram Invite long jump championship

RICHMOND, Va. – Freshman Sheemeca Berkley (Madison Heights, Va./Amherst County) competing in her first collegiate outdoor meet, earned a first-place finish by leaping 18-7.75 in the long jump, on a chilly first day of action during Virginia Commonwealth's seventh Ram Invitational at the Richard A. Hollander Track and Field Facility at Sports Backers Stadium.

Her classmate, Courtney Sanders (Burke, Va./Lake Braddock), followed in third with a jump of 17-5.50, while junior Zanishia Usher (Hampton, Va./Bayside) leaped 17-4.75, good enough for sixth place.

Junior Emily Thompson (Crozet, Va./Western Albermarle) achieved a personal record in the 5000m with a time of 18:28.73, which earned her a sixth place finish. Senior Jennell Holmes (Yorktown, Va./York) also scored a personal best in the hammer throw with a heave 129-7, while sophomore Lauren Stewart Richmond, Va./Governor's School) came just a quarter-inch short of tying her own VCU pole vault record with a mark of 10-11.75.

Sophomore Shaunte Barber (Richmond, Va./Meadowbrook) added a third-place finish for VCU in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:06.78.

Action continues on Saturday with events beginning at 9 a.m.