Pole Vault Sweep Highlights Strong Indoor Performance at VCU

Women's Track & Field | 1/9/2026 11:31:00 PM

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Norfolk State women's track & field team opened the 2026 indoor season with a strong showing at the VCU Ram Indoor Invite on Friday at the Virginia Beach Sports Center, registering 14 top-10 finishes. 

The Spartans totaled six podium performances, highlighted by a sweep of the women's pole vault. 

Freshman Emma Svetiev claimed gold in the event with a clearance of 3.15 meters, while Hunter Lexa finished second (2.70m) and Fabienne Renelus rounded out the podium with a third-place mark of 2.55 meters. 

Brooklyn Robinson delivered a standout performance in the 60-meter hurdles, winning the preliminaries before finishing second in the finals with a time of 8.38. Robinson also added a sixth-place finish in the 60-meter dash (7.69) after placing second in the prelims (7.63). 

Freshman Jada Arrington earned a bronze medal in the 400 meters, crossing the line in 58.52 seconds. Payton Drumwright followed closely in fourth (58.74), while Janaisa Dearry placed sixth with a time of 59.23. 

Additional top-10 finishes included Essence Shaw, who placed fourth in the high jump after clearing 1.60 meters, and Malye Hawes, who finished fifth in the long jump with a mark of 5.56 meters. 

In the distance events, Amira Dailey crossed the line eighth in the 3,000 meters with a time of 11:10.7, while Brandy Hall rounded out the top-10 performances with a ninth-place finish in the 200 meters (25.43). 

Norfolk State returns to action on Saturday, January 17, when the Spartans travel to New York to compete in the HBCU Showcase. 

VCU Ram Indoor Invite Results

Name Yr Event Place Time/Mark
Brandy Hall Sr W 200 9 25.43
Nevaeh Lewis Fr W 200 17 25.71
Payton Drumwright Fr W 200 23 25.86
Jada Arrington Fr W 200 24 26.09
Amira Dailey Fr W 3000 8 11:10.7
Abigael Chebet Jr W 3000 11 11:32.2
Jada Arrington Fr W 400 3 58.52
Payton Drumwright Fr W 400 4 58.74
Janaisa Dearry Fr W 400 6 59.23
Nevaeh Lewis Fr W 400 14 01:01.8
Dannielle King Jr W 500 12 01:23.8
Autumn Burrell So W 60m (F) 3 7.62
Brooklyn Robinson Sr W 60m (F) 6 7.69
Brooklyn Robinson Sr W 60m (P) 2 7.63 q
Autumn Burrell So W 60m (P) 3 7.64 q
Kendall Hall Fr W 60m (P) 27 8.03
Daena Dyer Jr W 60m (P) 37 8.11
Yowome Ayim Fr W 60m (P) 38 8.12
Natasha Tate Jr W 60m (P) 49 8.24
Essence Shaw Sr W 60m (P) 56 8.39
Brooklyn Robinson Sr W 60mH (F) 2 8.38
Daena Dyer Jr W 60mH (F) 7 8.91
Brooklyn Robinson Sr W 60mH (P) 1 8.52 Q
Daena Dyer Jr W 60mH (P) 8 8.98 q
Essence Shaw Sr W 60mH (P) 19 9.29
Yowome Ayim Fr W 60mH (P) 23 9.4
Essence Shaw Sr W High Jump 4 1.60m
Malye Hawes So W Long Jump (F) 5 5.56m
Malye Hawes So W Long Jump (P) 5 5.56m q
Kendall Hall Fr W Long Jump (P) 19 4.98m
Moamiky Kenneh Fr W MIle 11 05:31.6
Emma Svetiev Fr W Pole Vault 1 3.15m
Hunter Lexa Jr W Pole Vault 2 2.70m
Fabienne Renelus Fr W Pole Vault 3 2.55m
Kaena Riley So W Weight Throw (P) 16 13.29m
Kayla Spencer So W Weight Throw (P) 18 13.01m