Deaviz smashes UVA shot put record to open Raleigh Relays

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Freshman shot putter Maria Deaviz (Souderton, Pa.) led the Virginia track and field contingent on the first day of the Raleigh Relays by shattering the school record in the shot put.

Less than a week after setting the UVA freshman mark in the event, Deaviz recorded a put of 17.18m (56′ 4.5″) on her second attempt of the day that held up to win the competition. That was more than three feet past her winning mark at last week’s UVA Opener and a foot more than the previous UVA record. Deaviz’s performance ranks as the best in the nation this season.

Cavalier senior pole valuter Sam Young (Lewes, Del.) also picked up his second win on the season. He cleared a personal-best height of 5.25m (17’ 2.75”) and moved up to second place on UVA’s all-time performance list.

Other highlights for the three-day meet included freshman Wes Porter’s (Kansas City, Mo.) time in the 1,500 meters. He crossed the finish line in 3:45.58 to register the third-best time on UVA’s all-time freshman performance list.

Senior Halley Hazzard (Commack, N.Y.) advanced to Saturday’s finals of the 100-meter dash by turning in the second-best time (11.47) during the prelims. Hazzard is UVA’s school record holder in the 100 meters. Freshman Kayla Bonnick (St. Catherine, Jamaica) also advanced to the finals with a UVA freshman record time of 11.60.

The Raleigh relays, taking place at NC State’s Paul Derr Track Facility, runs through Saturday.