Owens wins triple jump at ACC Championships

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The second day of the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships saw Virginia win its third individual title when sophomore Owayne Owens captured the triple jump crown.

Sitting in third place after the first three preliminary rounds, Owens took the lead during his first attempt of the finals, going 15.86 meters. On his next attempt, he improved his mark to 15.97 meters and that was good enough to win the title. It was Owens’ second ACC title. He also won the triple jump at this year’s ACC Indoor Championships.

Distance runner Michaela Meyer had a stellar race in posting the best time in the 800-meter prelims. She set a facility record at NC State’s Paul Derr Track with a finish of 2:01.89. She will race for the 1500 and 800 championships on Saturday.

Several Cavaliers earned second-team All-ACC honors with their event finishes on Friday. Alix Still placed sixth in the heptathlon, Claudio Romero was sixth in the men’s shot put (18.10m / 59’ 4.75”) and Maria Deaviz finished seventh (16.42m / 53’ 10.5”) in the women’s shot put. Khyasia Caldwell was also sixth in the triple jump (12.81 meters / 42’ 0.5”).

During the day’s prelim rounds, multiple UVA competitors advanced to Saturday’s finals.

UVA placed two into the men’s 400-meter final when Jordan Willis (47.01) and Brandon Outlaw (46.20) both won their heats. Outlaw’s time was a personal best. Freshman Kayla Bonnick advanced (11.53) in the 100-meter dash with a personal best time.

Andrenette Knight qualified for the 100-meter hurdles finals after having the fifth-best prelim time (13.33), also a personal best mark.

UVA will also have two finalists in the men’s 1500 meters. Freshman Conor Murphy advanced with a time of 1:50.03 and Randy Neish qualified with a time of 1:50.92.