SALEM, Va. – The Sweet Briar College indoor track & field team competed at the Joe LaRocco Invitational, hosted by Roanoke, today with a strong mix of personal and season-best performances across the sprints, mid-distance and field events, highlighted by multiple first-year standouts and another solid showing from the program's throwers.
In the 60m prelims, first-year
Tyasia Spencer (Fredericksburg, Va.) advanced to the semifinals with a personal-best time of 8.51 seconds, placing 20th overall, and then lowered her PR again in the semifinals to 8.47 seconds to finish 16th. Sophomore
Electra McPherson (Madison Heights, Va.) ran 8.74 seconds in the prelims to place 28th, while first-year
Violet Walsh (Chesterfield County, Va.) clocked a personal-best 9.42 to cap Sweet Briar's trio in the event.
The 200m saw three Vixens in action as McPherson led the way with a season-best 30.75 to finish 37th, followed by first-year
Azshalay Utley (Columbus, Ohio) in 31.12 for 39th and Walsh closing in 31.72 for another personal record and 41st place.
In the 400m, Spencer turned in a season-best performance of 1:07.82 to claim 15th, with junior
Amanda Costa (Watertown, N.Y.) running 1:12.84 for 24th and Utley setting a personal record of 1:15.40 to finish 25th.
In the mid-distance races, first-year
Elaina Sherline (Morehead City, N.C.) continued her strong debut season by placing seventh in the 800m with a season-best time of 2:28.82.
In the field events, senior thrower
Jaiana Gray (Chicago, Ill.) recorded a mark of 9.55m in the weight throw to place 27th, adding another solid result to her indoor campaign.
In the shot put, Gray added another strong performance to her day with a mark of 9.05m, placing 19th in the collegiate field. Sophomore
Michaela Carr (Springfield, Va.) contributed to the Vixens' efforts in the ring as well, recording a season-best 5.66m to finish 29th and give Sweet Briar another scoring presence in the throws group.
Highlights
- Spencer's time in the 60m semifinals marks a new program record in the event, while Sherline also posted a top time in the record book in the 800m with her victory in the heat.
- Gray set a new program record with her throw distance of 9.55m in the weight throw.
What's Next
The Vixens will next compete at the Rockingham Collegiate Open on Feb. 20th.
Visit the online home of Sweet Briar Athletics, vixenathletics.com, to stay up-to-date on all Vixens sports and access live video coverage from the Vixen Sports Network. Click here to sign up for email blasts from Vixen Athletics.
To give to Sweet Briar Athletics, please fill out the form here.
You can also give the Sweet Briar Vixens a like on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, Threads and X (formerly Twitter).
