4x100 Relay Breaks Program Record at UVa Challenge

Friday, April 21

Charlottesville, Va.

James Madison University

UVA Challenge

4/21/2017 10:02:00 PM | Track & Field

@JMUTrackField JMU Track & Field Facebook Live Results Day One Results

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – James Madison track & field opened its weekend of competition with a record-breaking performance, setting a new program record in the 4x100 meter relay on Friday night at the UVa Challenge, held at the University of Virginia's Lannigan Field.

JMU's foursome, consisting of sophomore Meredith Willis, senior Kennedy King, junior Aereale Scott and freshman Alexys Taylor, completed the sprint relay with a program-record time of 45.37 seconds. That mark was nearly three tenths of a second faster than the previous record of 45.66, which was set last season. Their time was good for second place overall, trailing only Penn State by .18 seconds.

"It was very exciting for us tonight," Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Ta' Frias said. "We knew we could do it. We came out here to have a good heat and bring our time down. We changed the order for this race and it worked in our favor, so we're excited what happened tonight."

The Dukes had already produced the Colonial Athletic Association's top 4x100 time of the 2017 outdoor season, as Friday's time bested the 45.80 they ran at the Raleigh Relays last month.

"They work well together. This group is a good mix of old and new with seasoned seniors and freshmen and underclassmen. We have a good niche of athletes who come in and contribute for us. The synergy is what's helping us on a week in and week out basis."

JMU also had two distance runners compete in the 3000-meter steeplechase, as senior Tessa Mundell finished in 20th with a time of 10:44.55, and sophomore Olivia Viparina placed 25th in 10:48.22.

MAKING STRIDES TOWARD EAST PRELIMS
JMU's program-record time will undoubtedly move the Dukes up the qualification lists for the NCAA East Preliminary Championships, which will be held at the University of Kentucky in May. The Dukes were previously ranked 62nd in the region entering the weekend and will likely move up more than 20 spots come the weekend's end. But Ta' Frias believes there is still work to do to qualify the sprint relay.

"I think we'll have to bring the time down a little bit more, but I think we can definitely do it and get the opportunity to go on to Lexington," Frias said. "The women are ready to handle this kind of competition and we've been doing it all season long, starting at Raleigh Relays. Everybody is doing a great job of making things happen."

UP NEXT
The Dukes host the JMU Invitational on Saturday, April 22 at Sentara Park. The meet is set for a noon start and will be streamed live on MadiZONE HD SportsNet. Additionally, Carol Strock will head over the mountain to the UVa Challenge to race in the 1,500-meter run.