Another Record Broken, More Big Performances In Split-Squad Meets

Friday, February 19

Columbus, Ohio

5:45 p.m.

James Madison University

Buckeye Tune-Up

Another Record Broken, More Big Performances In Split-Squad Meets

2/19/2016 9:24:00 PM | Track & Field

HARRISONBURG, Va. - Several Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) qualifying marks were met and multiple personal records were eclipsed at the 2016 Indoor Virginia Tech Challenge in Blacksburg, Va. while graduate student Amber Monroe broke the JMU program record for indoor shot put at Ohio State's Buckeye Tune-Up in Columbus, Ohio on Friday night.

Making the trip to Columbus with Head Coach Cheree Hicks, Monroe stood alone atop the standings with a throw of 16.46 meters. The effort beats her previous season-best of 16.21 meters, which she notched at Penn State's Sykes & Sabock Challenge Cup on Feb. 6. This marks the fourth time in five meets Monroe has broken the school record, three of which were records of her own as well.

Not to be outdone, freshman Erica Jackson and junior Carol Strock raced their way onto the program's top-10 performances list for the 1,000-meter run and one-mile run, respectively, at the Virginia Tech Challenge.

Jackson ran a personal-best 2:53.19, placing the freshman eighth on the all-time performance list in front of Sarah Matthes' mark from 1998. The performance also qualifies Jackson for the 2016 Indoor ECAC Championships. Strock also made her way into 10th on the all-time performance list for the indoor mile after running a 4:54.45 to place first out of 20 runners in Blacksburg. The time is also a personal record and ECAC qualifier.

Sophomore Aereale Scott, who already sat in seventh on the top-10 performance list for the indoor 60-meter dash, managed to move up the charts into fifth after crossing the finish line in 7.64 seconds to surpass her previous personal record of 7.68, set at the 2016 Sykes & Sabock Challenge Cup.

Also coming up with impressive performances on the night were sophomore Haley Mahn (2:17.61) and freshman Micaela Poggi (2:17.95), who finished fourth and fifth respectively in the 800-meter run. Sophomore Ebony Owusu-Sampah leapt a season-best 5.89 meters in the long jump to grab third out of 30 athletes and qualify for ECACs for the second time this year.

"So far, we've had a few outstanding performances," said Director of Track & Tield and Cross Country Ta' Frias. "Erica Jackson had an aggressive race in the 1,000-meter run and Carol Strock ran an impressive mile. Aereale Scott had a personal-best in the 60-meter dash moving her up the all-time list in the event, and we ended the night with seasonal bests in the long jump, 60-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash."

The Dukes continue the Virginia Tech Challenge with day two set to begin Saturday morning at 11 a.m. Stay tuned to JMUSports.com and @JMUTrackField on Twitter for updates throughout the day.

RESULTS
Complete results from the Virginia Tech Challenge can be found by clicking here, while complete results from Ohio State's Buckeye Tune-Up can be found here.

NEXT UP
Following the Virginia Tech Challenge, James Madison heads to the campus of George Mason in Northern Virginia for the third time this year after competing in the Father Diamond Invitational on Jan. 9 to open the season and the Patriot Games on Jan. 30.