GREENSBORO, N.C. -- One of the oldest marks in the Virginia Wesleyan College track and field record book fell Saturday as the Marlins enjoyed an impressive showing in the Aggie Invitational hosted by North Carolina A&T University.
Junior Dan Elmore (Warrenton/Fauquier)set one of six new records for the Marlins, as he posted a time of 50.11 in the 400 meter dash. That nipped the existing VWC record of 50.12 set by Jason Taylor in 2008, one of the oldest Marlin marks when the season began. Elmore placed 22nd in a field of 43 runners in the Division I dominated competition.
Senior Randy Lott (Virginia Beach/Frank W. Cox) continued to improve on his VWC sprinting records, this time in the 200 meter dash. He recorded the highest finish of any Division III runner in the race, clocking a time of 21.38. That improved on his own VWC record of time of 21.62 set in 2012, and is currently the fourth fastest time in the event in the nation. A total of 77 runners competed in the race.
Lott and Elmore were also part of the Marlins' 4x400 relay, which turned in one of the highest finishes in the meet for Virginia Wesleyan. Rookies Aries Reyes (Alexandria/St. Stephens and St. Agnes) and Trey White (Spotsylvania/Courtland) were also part of the quartet that finished third in a field of 13, posting a VWC record time of 3:19.45, improving the former mark of 3:20.40. The new record is currently the 21st fastest in the nation.
The Marlin men also gained a new record in field events as junior Ethan Fowlkes (Quinton/New Kent)wiped out VWC's best mark in the triple jump. He recorded a distance of 47 feet, 6.25 inches, smashing the former record of 44-6.75 set by Travis Oliver in 2013. Fowlkes' jump currently ranks sixth in the country.
Senior Courtney Mebane (Virginia Beach/Tallwood) guided the Virginia Wesleyan women to a pair of new records, including a new mark in the 400 hurdles. She recorded a new Marlin record-time of 1:03.50, breaking the mark of 1:05.58 that she set in 2012. Mebane finished 17th in a field of 34, producing a time that currently ranks 33rd nationally.
Mebane was also part of the Marlins' 4x100 relay that continues to improve its time. Shakira Mills (Hampton/Bethel), Tiana Hughes (Stafford/Brooke Point), and Tiffany Lennon (Carrollton/Smithfield)were part of the foursome that placed seventh in a field of 17 team with a VWC record time of 48.87, breaking their previous mark of 49.00. The new time currently ranks 30th nationally.
Additional highlights of the meet for the Marlns:
MEN
High jump -- Ed Chase (Falls Church/J.E.B. Stewart), 7th of 15, 6-2
Pole vault -- Chris Coles (Norfolk/Granby), 8th, 10-6
4x100 -- John Chapman (Newport News/Hampton Christian), Fowlkes, Stephen Cole (Vienna/Oakton), Lott, 6th of 16, 42.17
100 -- Lott, 9th of 58, 10.80
800 -- Hunter Melius (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee), 32nd of 56, 2:05.72
WOMEN
Triple jump -- Mebane, 10th, 33-7.5
1500 -- Emily Latimer (Staunton/Fort Defiance), 16th of 35, 5:18.35
100 hurdles -- Mebane, 15th of 29, 15.67
100 dash -- Lennon, 18th of 51, 12.69
400 -- Shakiella Daniel (Suffolk/Lakeland), 18th of 44, 59.09
800 -- Autumn Watson (Rocky Mount/Franklin County), 15th of 41, 2:27.67
200-- Daniel, 43rd of 74, 26.19
--AMDG--
