VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — VCU scored 178 points to win the 2026 Atlantic 10 Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Virginia Beach Sports Center. It marked the eighth straight title for the balck and gold Rams, who won a thrilling women's 4 x 400 meter relay to edge out Rhode Island Saturday.

Rhody finished second with 152 points, followed by George Mason with 104. Saint Joseph’s placed fourth with 92 and Dayton was fifth with 70.

VCU’s field events anchored its championship. Desiree Akaolisa won the shot put with a mark of 15.78 m, outscoring the field and leading the Rams’ throws corps. Akaolisa was named Most Outstanding Field Performer for her contributions in multiple field disciplines over the weekend. 

Lily Saul of Rhode Island anchored the distance runners, winning both the 1,000 m in 2:46.86 and the mile run in 4:44.40 to score 20 team points. Her performances earned her Most Outstanding Track Performer honors. The 1,000 meters mark was a finals highlight, with Saul edging Duquesne’s Sylvia Kashak and Saint Joseph’s Quinn O’Brien, setting a new league record. In the mile, Saul topped Hallie Muniz of Richmond and Hadley Mahoney of George Washington.

In the top sprints, Asia Powell of VCU claimed the 60 meters in 7.36, with Jadyn Haywood and Simone Bessong of Dayton second and third. Powell also added key points in the 200 m, where Haywood won in 23.72 as Bessong took second and Powell third.

In the 400 meters, VCU’s Jaliyah Person won in 54.75, with Rhode Island’s Reagan Garibaldi second and Fordham’s Alexandra Williams third. In the 500 m, Jordyn Evans of VCU clocked 1:15.33 to win, followed by Rhode Island’s Abby Colella and George Mason’s Helen Santacana Bastida.

The 800 m final was won by Tess Crossan of Saint Joseph’s in 2:09.96, with Richmond’s Caroline Donohoe second and Saint Joseph’s Karin Dobiasch third.

In the 3,000 meters, Ella Semple of George Mason took gold in 9:29.85, outpacing the field in the longer distance final.

Rhode Island’s Zarah Singleton scored in multiple sprint finals, including a fourth-place finish in the 60 m (7.58) and points in other sprints, and was named Most Outstanding Rookie.

On the barriers and technical events, the 60 m hurdles title went to [event winner — please confirm exact final results if available]. Pole vault, high jump, long jump and weight throw finals also contributed toward the overall team totals, with VCU and Rhode Island women among the top finishers in those finals.

VCU entered the final day with the lead and closed with the highest team total at 178 points, securing the women’s championship. Head coach Jon Riley was named Coach of the Year after leading VCU to the title. Saul’s combined distance scoring and Singleton’s contributions as a freshman anchored Rhode Island’s runner-up finish.