RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Union University women's track & field team opened the 2026 outdoor season in impressive fashion, with Yamilet Cruz earning top honors in the shot-put at the Fred Hardy Invitational, held March 19–20 at the University of Richmond.

Virginia Union's throwers led the way with several standout performances as the Lady Panthers began the outdoor campaign on a strong note.

"Our outdoor season opener went well overall," said Virginia Union Head Track & Field Coach Franck Charles. "It gave us a clear picture of what we need to improve moving forward. We still have a lot to fix as a team, but that's exactly what an opener is for, identifying areas we can build on. Despite that, we had some strong performances to highlight."

The Lady Panthers were particularly dominant in the shot put competition.

Cruz delivered a record-breaking performance, capturing first place with a throw of 12.28 meters to set a new Virginia Union outdoor school record in the event. Cruz also showcased her versatility by finishing third overall in the javelin throw.

Jadah Pringle added to the Panthers' strong showing in the shot put, placing second overall with a throw of 11.88 meters. Teammate Kornti Searles secured third place with a throw of 11.64 meters and also turned in a solid performance in the hammer throw, finishing fifth.

In the discus competition, Searles placed fourth with a throw of 36.27 meters, while Ellis Oshawnna recorded a fifth-place finish with a throw of 33.89 meters.

Virginia Union will return to action March 26–28 when the Panthers travel to Atlanta to compete in the Morehouse Relays hosted by Morehouse College.