RICHMOND, Va. – This weekend, the Virginia Commonwealth women's track and field team will compete for their first-ever Colonial Athletic Association title.
With 29 entries listed among the top eight of the current CAA performance list, including ten in the top three, the team has positioned itself for a strong run at the championship. Eight athletes will score in each event.
The sprints and jumps look to be the strongest events for VCU. Cheri Manning (Glen Allen, Va./J.R Tucker), pictured (right), leads the Rams as she is seeded in the top two in three different events. The senior ranks first in the 200m with a time of 24.25 and second in the 100m (12.19) and 400m (56.61). Sophomore Tesonia Twine (Richmond, Va./Meadowbrook) will be seeded third in the 100m due to her season-best time of 12.40.
Sheemeca Berkley (Madison Heights, Va./Amherst County) is the other Ram with a #1-seed heading into the championships. The freshman has a mark of 19-0 in the long jump. Junior Yvette Simmons (Newport News, Va./Denbigh) is seeded second in the triple jump after her season-best leap of 39-7.75, while three other Rams are ranked in the top six: senior Patience Ekperi (Washington, D.C./Georgetown Visitation), Berkley and junior Brandy Butler (Charlottesville, Va./Charlottesville).
Junior Tanika Brown (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) is seeded second in the high jump (5-10.75), an event she competed in at the 2005 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
The 4x100m squad consisting of Manning, Berkley, Twine and junior Courtney Green (Caroline, Va./Caroline), pictured (left), is seeded second after its best time of 47.54 during the 2005 campaign.
Sophomore hurdlers Pia Ruth (Rahway, N.J./Linden) and Shaunte' Barber (Richmond, Va./Meadowbook are also in the top three. Ruth is seeded second in the 100m hurdles, while Barber is third in the 400m hurdles.
The 2005 CAA Track and Field Championships will be held on the campus of George Mason University, April 22-23.
RICHMOND, Va. – This weekend, the Virginia Commonwealth women's track and field team will compete for their first-ever Colonial Athletic Association title.
With 29 entries listed among the top eight of the current CAA performance list, including ten in the top three, the team has positioned itself for a strong run at the championship. Eight athletes will score in each event.
The sprints and jumps look to be the strongest events for VCU. Cheri Manning (Glen Allen, Va./J.R Tucker), pictured (right), leads the Rams as she is seeded in the top two in three different events. The senior ranks first in the 200m with a time of 24.25 and second in the 100m (12.19) and 400m (56.61). Sophomore Tesonia Twine (Richmond, Va./Meadowbrook) will be seeded third in the 100m due to her season-best time of 12.40.
Sheemeca Berkley (Madison Heights, Va./Amherst County) is the other Ram with a #1-seed heading into the championships. The freshman has a mark of 19-0 in the long jump. Junior Yvette Simmons (Newport News, Va./Denbigh) is seeded second in the triple jump after her season-best leap of 39-7.75, while three other Rams are ranked in the top six: senior Patience Ekperi (Washington, D.C./Georgetown Visitation), Berkley and junior Brandy Butler (Charlottesville, Va./Charlottesville).