Track & Field: All five Wahoo milers go sub-four as UVA wraps up weekend events

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The Virginia men’s and women’s track and field teams closed competition at Boston University’s David Hemery Valentine Invitational and Clemson’s Tiger Paw Invitational on Saturday. Conor Murphy and Derek Johnson took down Virginia records in the mile, while five Cavaliers went sub-four in the mile and two Cavaliers set freshman records.

DAVID HEMERY VALENTINE INVITATIONAL (Boston, Mass.):

The Virginia milers put on a show in Boston all five Cavalier runners posted sub-four-minute mile times while four of them topped the previous indoor mile record. Murphy was once again the stand-out performer for the Cavaliers as he continued a blistering hot start to his season. Murphy won his heat in the mile running the fastest indoor time in Virginia history posting 3:55.24. The time tops the previous record It was the first time Murphy broke the four-minute barrier in his career.

Following Murphy was Virginia’s freshman-phenom Gary Martin. The Virginia first-year raced in the mile for the first time in his collegiate career and he did not disappoint. Martin placed fourth in his heat posting a time of 3:56.83 as he shattered the Virginia freshman record and trails only Murphy at the top of the all-time list. Murphy was flanked by teammate Wes Porter who also clocked 3:56.83 running the second sub-four mile of his career.

Running in separate heats, freshman James Donahue took second while posting 3:57.44, a time that ranks second among Virginia freshmen all-time and trailing only Martin on that list. Nate Mountain finished fourth while clocking 3:59.01. Prior to Saturday (Feb. 11) the Virginia all-time indoor performance list contained just four mile times under four minutes.

In the men’s 3000 meters, Jacob Hunter and Jack Eliason each posted personal best times as they clocked 8:01.88 and 8:02.17 respectively. Will Anthony made his collegiate debut in the event as he posted a time of 8:01.81 setting a Virginia freshman record in the event.

Derek Johnson capped the day with a school record performance of his own. In the 5000 meters, Johnson crushed his previous best time posting 13:39.88. The time tops a record of 13:45.37 set by Zach Herriot in 2017 to stand as the fastest 5000-meter time in Virginia history.

TIGER PAW INVITATIONAL (Clemson, S.C.):

In the women’s 200-meter dash, Virginia picked up three wins as Jada Seaman, Sarah Akpan and Kayla Bonnick all topped their heats. Seaman posted a season-best time of 23.74 while Akpan raced to a personal best time of 24.00. With her performance, Akpan puts her name on the Virginia all-time list ranking fifth all-time in the 200. Her time also ranks second among freshmen in Virginia history.

On the men’s side of the 200 meters, Jay Pendarvis placed second in his heat posting 21.54 while Evans white posted 22.13 and Nigal Davis clocked 22.52 as each finished fifth in their heats.

In the men’s triple jump Owayne Owens took home his second victory of the season as he posted a mark of 16.59 meters (54’5.25”). On the women’s side, Jordan Hardy once again notched a personal-best performance. Hardy leapt to a mark of 12.86 meters (42’2.25”) to place 10th in the competition overall. Hardy’s mark sets a Virginia freshman record and places her in a tie for the sixth-best mark in Virginia history as she draws level with Dana Boone (’91).

Ashley Anumba placed ninth in the women’s shot put hitting a mark of 15.55 meters (51’0.25”) while Janae Profit (14.85m/48’8.75”) and Kaiya Sunders (14.76m/48’5.25”) placed 14th and 15th, respectively. Brook Lumpkin threw for a mark of 14.10 meters (46’3.25”).

FROM DIRECTOR OF TRACK & FIELD VIN LANANNA

“I am very pleased with how our team competed this weekend across multiple different meets. There was a strong Virginia presence at each. Esther Seeland and Margot Appleton led an awesome group of women in Boston. Conor Murphy and Derek Johnson were among an inspiring group of men as well, five of whom came in under four minutes in the mile which is a very special accomplishment. Owayne Owens, Jada Seaman and Jordan Hardy were excellent in Clemson as well. We are seeing great results and improvement across the team and we look forward to putting it all together at the ACC Championships in two weeks.”

DAY ONE HIGHLIGHTS

• Esther Seeland set a school record in the 800 meters posting 2:03.67 (Boston)
• Margot Appleton ran the second-fastest indoor mile in UVA history with a time of 4:33.82 (Boston)
• Ellie Desmond posted a personal-best time in the 3k running 9:24.18 (Boston)
• Combined athlete Alix Still ran a personal best in the 60-meter hurdles posting 8.45 (Clemson)
• Alex Sherman took second in his heat in the 400 meters posting a personal best 47.42 (Clemson)
• Jacob Lemmon set a personal-best in the weight throw hitting a mark of 20.97m (68’9.75”)

UP NEXT

The Cavaliers will be back in action tomorrow next weekend as they travel to the Virginia Tech Challenge and the JDL DMR Invitational on Friday and Saturday.