LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Randolph College women's track and field team opened the 2026 competition at The Burg Open, hosted by the University of Lynchburg. 

Jessica Taylor highlighted the meet for the WildCats with an impressive first-place finish in the 400-meter dash, crossing the line in 59.29 for a school record and meet record. Taylor also had a busy day on the track, placing sixth in both the 60-meter dash prelims (8.16) and finals (8.14) and earning a fourth-place finish in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.50.

In the hurdles, Shaniya Owens secured a seventh-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles, posting a time of 10.94, and later competed in the 400-meter dash, finishing in 1:08.60.

Renya Russell advanced to the finals of the 60-meter dash after placing seventh in the prelims (8.20) and matched that result in the finals with a time of 8.19. Russell also competed in the 200-meter dash, finishing ninth in 27.27.

Additional sprint performances came from Tatianna Langston (8.48) and Tyana Ayres (9.09) in the 60-meter dash prelims. Ayres also ran the 200-meter dash, clocking a time of 30.55. In the 400-meter dash, Madison Somerville recorded a time of 1:08.52.

Rounding out the day, Ryleigh Frayser represented Randolph in the middle-distance events, finishing the 800-meter run in 2:39.61.

The WildCats will head to Roanoke for the Finn Pincus Invitational in Salem, Va, on Jan. 16-17.