Track & Field: Dabbs takes silver; three other Hoos move on to NCAA finals

jerryratcliffe.com

Posted on Thursday, Jun. 8, 2023, 12:00 am

Follow Jerry Ratcliffe on Twitter

Advertising inquiries: Connect with us

Email Jerry Ratcliffe: jratcliffe7000@gmail.com

 

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photo: UVA Athletics

The Virginia men’s track and field team opened competition at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Austin Wednesday, where Ethan Dabbs won silver in the men’s javelin for the second consecutive season. The Cavaliers went three-for-three in the running events as Conor Murphy, Derek Johnson and Nate Mountain all progressed to the finals.

BACK-TO-BACK SILVER MEDALS

Dabbs, the four-time reigning ACC champion, booked his place in the finals on his third attempt of the competition before unleashing a pair of throws that each surpassed 79 meters. Dabbs’ best throw came on his fourth attempt of the competition marking 79.27 meters (260’1”) falling less than two feet short of LSU’s Tzuriel Pedigo in first place (79.79m/261’9”).

  • Matching his placement at the NCAA Championships in 2022, Dabbs remains one of just two Cavaliers to win silver in the men’s javelin at the meet
  • Dabbs becomes a three-time first-team All-American with back-to-back second-place finishes and a seventh-place finish in 2019

From Dabbs: “It’s a bittersweet ending. I would have liked to finish a little higher, but I think everything happens for a reason. I’m satisfied, but I know there is more to come, and I couldn’t be more thankful for all of the opportunities I’ve been given.”

THREE-FOR-THREE

On the track, all three of Virginia’s competitors advanced to the final round of the NCAA Championships beginning with Nate Mountain and Derek Johnson each clinching automatic qualifying places while running in separate heats of the 3000-Steeplechase.

  • Mountain led things off in the first heat. Closing well in the final stages of the race, Mountain surged in to third to advance automatically running a time of 8:38.31.
  • In the second heat, Johnson asserted himself amongst the leaders and cruised to the fourth-fastest qualifying time running 8:35.85
  • Mountain secured his first-ever qualification to an NCAA final while Derek Johnson has a chance to secure his second All-American honors in the steeplechase
  • The final is set to be contested Friday at 8:24 p.m. (CT)

Conor Murphy booked his place in Friday’s action running in the 800 meters:

  • The junior middle-distance specialist drew the outside lane in the first heat of the men’s 800-meters and placed fourth in his heat, outside the two automatic qualification places.
  • As the final-two heats progressed, Murphy’s time of 1:48.00 held up as one of the next three fastest times to secure his place in the final as the eighth qualifier out of nine
  • Murphy advances to an NCAA final for the second time in his career – he placed sixth in the mile at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 2023
  • The 800 final is set to be contested Friday at 9:14 p.m. (CT)

UP NEXT

The NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships continue Thursday, as the women’s competition begins. Margot Appleton (1500m) and Sophie Atkinson (10,000m) are both scheduled to compete.