The final meet of a fantastic regular season from the Cavaliers was highlighted by the performance of graduate student Michaela Meyer, who won the 800-meter with a time of 2:01.82. In doing so, she broke her own school record, set a facility record and recorded the eighth best time in the nation this season.
Virginia was also able to take first place in a number of field events. The women’s long jump was dominated by the Cavaliers, who were able to claim the top four spots in the event. Senior Khyasia Caldwell won with an effort of 6.23 meters (20’ 5.25”), followed by freshman Jada Seaman at 5.99 meters (19’ 8”). Sophomore Zoe Rice finished third with a personal best of 5.97 meters (19’ 7”), and sophomore Mia Abulencia was fourth with a jump of 5.85 meters (19’ 2.5”).
Also in the field, sophomore Rebecca Hawkins was able to win the high jump with a personal best leap of 1.75 meters (5’ 8.75”), placing her at ninth on Virginia’s all-time performance list. The Cavaliers also won the women’s shot put thanks to freshman Maria Deaviz, who won her fourth shot put event of the season with a throw of 16.89 meters (55’ 5”).
In addition to Meyers’ phenomenal accomplishment in the 800-meter, Virginia gave many other strong performances on the track. Seaman won the 100-meter dash with a personal best time of 11.44. This was an improvement on her own freshman school record and ranks fourth all-time for the Cavaliers. Seaman was just ahead of freshman Kayla Bonnick, who finished second in the event at 11.62. In the 100-meter hurdles, senior Andrenette Knight won with a personal record time of 13.37, placing her at third on the school’s all-time performance list.
Some other noteworthy performances by Virginia include junior Brandon Outlaw’s finish as the top collegiate runner in the 400-meter at 46.40, freshman Keith Frasier’s personal best finish of 53.86 in the 400-meter hurdles and sophomore Derek Johnson’s personal best time of 8:46.00 in the 3000-meter steeplechase to finish second.
Additionally, freshman Claudio Romero continued his stellar season as the top collegiate finisher in the discus with a throw of 62.81 meters (206’ 1”). The only athlete to surpass him in the event was former Virginia thrower Jordan Young, who won the event with a toss of 64.14 meters (210’ 5”).
In the women’s discus, junior Thelma Kristjánsdóttir was second with a heave of 52.13 meters (171’ 0”). Sophomore Sadey Rodriguez finished in fourth place after a personal best effort of 48.46 meters (159’ 0”).
The women’s hammer throw saw a personal best effort from junior Eva Mustafic, who finished third with a throw of 61.99 meters (203’ 4”). On the men’s side, freshman Jacob Lemmon claimed second place with a throw of 61.20m (200’ 9”), just ahead of senior Ty Kunzman who threw a personal best of 60.58 meters (198’ 9”) to finish third.
In the long jump, sophomore Owayne Owens was second with a jump of 7.43 meters (24’ 4.5”). Junior Ayende Watson took third with a personal best jump of 7.35 meters (24’ 1.5”). In the men’s triple jump, sophomore Dejon Mayo gave a personal best effort of 14.91 meters (48’ 11”) to finish third. Meanwhile, on the women’s side of the triple jump, freshman Nadia Saunders finished second with a leap of 12.36 meters (40’ 6.75”).
Senior Maya Maloney finished second in the pole vault with a personal best height of 4.08 meters (13’ 4.5”). This performance puts her at second on the school’s all-time list. Freshman Trina Barcarola finished fifth in the event after clearing 3.83 meters (12’ 6.75”).
History was made in the final event of the day, as Georgetown junior Jack Salisbury and freshman Parker Stokes became the first athletes to ever record a mile time of less than four minutes at Lannigan Field. Salisbury ran 3:56.22, and Stokes ran 3:59.89. For Virginia, freshman Wes Porter, who ran 4:00.08, and freshman Conor Murphy, who ran 4:00.09, just missed the four-minute barrier. They still finished fourth and fifth, respectively, to wrap up a successful day for the Cavaliers.
Next up, Virginia will look to continue its momentum in the 2021 ACC Championships May 13-15 in Raleigh, N.C.
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