LEXINGTON, Va. (Jan. 24, 2025) – The ETSU women's track and field team bagged two gold medals on the opening day of the VMI Invitational, which got underway Friday at the CPTF-Corps Physical Training Facility in Lexington, Va.
 
The women's 4x800m relay – featuring Ansley Archuleta, Izelle Kruger, Bonita Gray and Deena Ludtke – began the day with first-place performance. The group turned in a time of 9:37.48, which was five seconds faster than second-place JMU and 10 seconds better than third-place and host VMI.
 
Later in the day, in the 5000m, Julia Visgueiro – a member of the women's triathlon team – finished first with a time of 17:54.59, which was 38 seconds better than the second-place finisher.
 
For the second straight week, Frania Romero-Barba enjoyed a podium finish in the pole vault. After bringing home gold in the event last week in Salem, Va., Romero-Barba finished second with a mark of 3.50m – the second-best height of her collegiate career. Meanwhile, freshman Allison Shingleton just missed the podium after placing fourth (3.35m).
 
Freshman Akera Molette – who won gold in the high jump last week's season opener – advanced to the semifinals of the 60m hurdles, while also placing fifth in the high jump at 1.55m. Molette moved on from the quarterfinals of the 60m hurdles with a time of 9.38 and finished 14th in the semifinals after crossing the line in 9.39.
 
Back on the field, Tyla Nicholson crushed her personal best in the weight throw for a second straight week. Last week, at the Finn Pincus Invitational, Nicholson's mark of 11.39m bested her previous top throw of 8.16m, set at the 2024 Camel City Invitational. On Friday, Nicholson let one fly 13.88m en route to finishing 15th in a field of 62 competitors.
 
In women's long jump, Tya Blake ended the night by making the finals. Overall, Blake finished eighth with a leap of 5.43m. Blake's best leap came in her first attempt, while it's her best indoor mark in the event since recording a leap of 5.44m at the 2023 Southern Conference Championships.   
 
Click here for full meet results.
 
Saturday's final day of the meet gets underway at 10 a.m. with women's triple jump.
 
For more information on Buccaneer women's track and field, visit ETSUBucs