Cavaliers explode on Day 2 of ACC Championships

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The Virginia men’s and women’s track and field teams continued competition at the ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Friday where Ethan Dabbs and Maria Deaviz took gold in the javelin and shot put.

Dabbs entered the meet with the nation’s second-best mark. With his first throw of the afternoon, he set both an ACC Championship record and a facility record at Morris Williams Stadium but did not stop there. After setting a new personal-best in his second attempt, his third throw of the series reached a distance of 82.92m (272’0”). Dabbs was able to pass on his final three attempts as his best mark places him atop the NCAA and secured his third consecutive ACC title.

Maria Deaviz entered the shot put as the ACC’s reigning indoor champion in the event. On her fifth attempt of the night, Deaviz heaved a throw that reached a mark of 17.08m (56’0.5”) to edge Virginia Tech’s Essence Henderson for the ACC crown and secure 10 points for the Cavaliers.

Also making his way on to the podium was Owayne Owens who took home the silver in the triple jump for the Cavaliers reaching a mark of 16.18m (53’1”) and secured eight points for the men. The reigning ACC indoor triple jump champion claimed first team All-ACC honors for the fourth time in his career and second time this season.

In the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase Yasin Sado threw down an incredible performance. The sophomore won the silver medal in the event with a time of 8:33.39. The time was a personal best for Sado and ranks as the second-fastest time in Virginia history and the fastest all-time amongst UVA freshmen. Following Sado in fouth place was Nathan Mountain who also clocked a personal best of 8:39.42. The Hoos combined for a massive 13 points in the final event of the day to vault the men’s team into third place in the team standings.

On the women’s side Helena Lindsay placed fifth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and recorded a personal-best time of 10:05.68 which ranks fifth in Virginia history.

Colin Duignan recorded a personal-best mark in the men’s pole vault. Climbing to a height of 5.03m (16’6”), Duignan placed sixth and earned second team All-ACC honors. Duignan’s performance will go down as the seventh-best mark in UVA history.

The Cavaliers also put themselves in a position to accumulate more points on Saturday.

Conor Murphy raced to a victory in his heat of the 800-meters. The sophomore battled through a physical race posting a time of 1:51.26 and securing an opportunity to score points for the Cavaliers on Saturday.

On the women’s side of the 800-meters Sydney Coppolino placed third in here heat throwing down a personal-best time of 2:06.15 which ranks 10th in Virginia history and booked her place in Saturday’s final.

Jordan Willis also snatched a place in the finals of the men’s 400-meters on Saturday. The veteran sprinter blazed to a second-place finish recording a huge personal-best time of 45.97 which ranks third in Virginia history.

Alix Still finished off the women’s heptathlon with a day of impressive performances. She began the day with a sixth-place finish in the long jump before launching a personal-best javelin throw that reached 35.52m (113’3”).

Still saved her best performance for the competition’s final event. Coming into the final straightaway of the 800-meters, Still chased down Wake Forest’s Addison Berry to go from fifth place into first and record a personal-best time of 2:15.76. The performance secured sixth place in the heptathlon overall with a total of 5,481. The total is a personal best for Still and ranks second in Virginia history.

In the men’s decathlon Derek Pekar claimed seventh place with his total of 6,658 points. Pekar’s top performance of the day came in the pole vault when he cleared a height of 4.55m (14’11”) and finished second in the event.

Team Standings

The Virginia men sit in third place overall with a total of 42 points while the women sit in ninth place with their 23.75 total points.

In the battle for the Commonwealth Clash point between Virginia and Virginia Tech, the Cavalier men lead the Hokies while the women trail Virginia Tech after two days of competition.

On Opening Day

Rohann Asfaw (10,000-meters), Evangelos Fradelakis (hammer throw) each scored points for the Cavalier men. Jada Seaman and Jordan Hardy tallied points for the women in the long jump while Trina Barcarola, Maya Maloney and Gabriella Recce all tied for eighth in the pole vault.

The Hoos also gave themselves a chance to score points on the final day of competition. The Virginia men qualified more runners for the 1500-meters than any other school as Ka’eo Kruse, Conor Murphy and Wes Porter all booked their places in Saturday’s final.

On the women’s side Mia Barnett recorded a facility record time (4:16.51) in the 1500-meters at Morris Williams Stadium as she and Anna Workman each qualified for the finals. Jada Seaman (200-meters) and Alex Sherman (400-meter hurdles) also secured the opportunity to score points in Saturday’s finals.

From Head Coach Vin Lananna

“Today was an excellent day for our team. We saw amazing performances from Ethan Dabbs, who won his third straight ACC title. Maria and Owayne were outstanding in their events and it was just a spectacular way to end the day with Yasin Sado and Nathan Mountain placing second and fourth in the steeplechase. We are looking forward to another chance to compete tomorrow.”

Up Next

The Cavaliers are back in action tomorrow (May 13) for the final day of competition beginning with the men’s discus at 11 a.m.