Taylor, Morris & Johnson Qualify For ECAC's In Season Opener

Saturday, January 5

Fairfax, Va.

All Day

James Madison University

Father Diamond Invitational

Taylor, Morris & Johnson Qualify For ECAC's In Season Opener

1/5/2019 8:01:00 PM | Track & Field

Gallery

FAIRFAX, Va. – James Madison track and field opened its 2019 indoor season at the George Mason Father Diamond Invitational. The Dukes had 19 top-5 finishes and three ECAC qualifiers in the meet.

ECAC QUALIFIERS

Alexys Taylor was the first JMU ECAC qualifier of the year! The junior ran a 7.64 in the 60m dash prelims to qualify. She then ran a 7.64 in the finals to finish second in the race.
Sidra Morris threw an ECAC qualifying personal best 14.79m (48'6.25") in the shot put
Dominique Johnson qualified for the ECAC championship with her personal best toss of the shot put 13.64m (44'9").

JMU Top-10

Skyla Davidson had herself an opening meet. The sophomore tied for 10^th on the JMU Indoor list with her 8.95 finish in the 60m hurdles during the prelim run. She then ran in the finals in 8.94 to take sole possession of 10^th on the JMU indoor list.
Dominique Johnson now stands fourth all-time in the weight throw when she launched a personal best 15.75m (51'8.25").
Morris and Johnson's throws in the shot put placed them in 2^nd and 6^th,respectively, on the JMU indoor list

GOING FOR GOLD

Senior Olivia Viparina went out strong in the mile. She picked up a first-place finish with her 5:13.58 time.
Sophomore Brooke Manion took first place in the 3000m run with a 10:30.62 time.
Morris was the third Duke to place first in the season opener.

PERSONAL RECORDS

Skyla Davidson started the Dukes off with a personal record in the long jump. The sophomore's first jump of 2019, which was 5.43m was a personal record. In her second jump, she jumped 5.57m (18'3.25") for a new best and a third-place finish. It was just off an ECAC qualifying jump.
Matasha Martin set a personal indoor record in the long jump with a 5.47m (17'11.5") which was good for fourth
Kayla Connelly set a huge personal record when she finished second in the mile with a time of 5:13.98
Nicolette Serratore tied her personal record 1.60m (5'3") in the high jump to finish tied for third.
Maggie Linton took second in the 500m run with her new personal best 1:18.13.

NEW YEAR, NEW FACES

JMU has a handful of new faces to the team who would set personal bests in their first meet including Lauren Smith (60m dash), Grace Edison (mile), Lilly Minor (500m), Anna Marcucci (1000m), Tess Lee (200m) and Jamie Richards (shot put).

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Coach McCown: "I'm extremely pleased with the performances of the team all around. On the track and in the field events it was a good opening meet for us. We had three ECAC qualifiers, several event winners and several personal bests. I am proud of the effort and performances the team gave today. It's a great starting point for this year!"

UP NEXT
James Madison will head to Huntington, WV for the Marshall Women's Only Meet on Saturday, Jan. 12.