Track & Field: Cavaliers look to make splash at Penn Relays, Virginia High Performance

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Posted on Thursday, Apr. 27, 2023, 1:10 am

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Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photo: UVA Athletics

The Virginia men’s and women’s track and field teams enter the final weekend of the regular season as the teams travel to the Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia (Thursday through Saurday) before returning to Charlottesville to host the Virginia High Performance meet at Lannigan Field on Sunday. The Virginia program will honor its seniors with a ceremony during the meet.

HOW TO FOLLOW

The Penn Relays will be streamed live from April 27-29 on FloTrack, available with a paid subscription. Links to the FloTrack live stream, and live results for both Penn Relays and the Virginia High Performance are available at VirginiaSports.com. Updates will also be posted to the team’s official Twitter account (@UVAtfcc).

HOOS IN THE RANKINGS

The latest USTFCCCA Track & Field Ranking Index for the 2023 outdoor season were released on Monday, as the women checked in at No. 24. Additionally, members of the Virginia men’s and women’s teams occupy 13 top-25 positions among their respective events.

Men
2. Ethan Dabbs – Sr., Javelin, 80.82 meters (265’2”)
5. Owayne Owens – Gr., Triple Jump, 16.53m (54’2.75”)
8. Nathan Mountain – So., 3000 SC, 8:34.99
12. Derek Johnson – Gr., 3000 SC, 8:38.54
12. Conor Murphy – Jr., 800 meters, 1:47.27
25. Gary Martin – Fr., 800m, 1:47.74

Women
3. Margot Appleton – So., 1500m, 4:08.96
6. Ashley Anumba – Gr., Discus, 59.37m (194’9”)
10. Margot Appleton – So., 5000 meters, 15:36.28
10. Jordan Hardy – So., Triple Jump, 13.41m (44’0”)
14. Alix Still – Sr., Heptathlon, 5662 points
17. Esther Seeland – Gr., 1500m, 4:12.55
20. Sam Romano – Fr., Pole Vault, 4.20m (13’ 9.25”)

PENN RELAYS NOTES

  • The last time the Cavaliers won a relay championship at Penn Relays was in 2011 when the Virginia men won their second consecutive title in the 4×800
  • The Cavaliers have won 10 relay titles at the historic meet including six from the men’s program and four from the women
  • The women’s team’s last relay title came in 1982 in the distance medley relay – their third straight title at the time

A BIG WEEKEND AT THE VIRGINIA CHALLENGE

Virginia comes off an impressive weekend at home after hosting the Virginia Challenge. Highlights include:

  • Ethan Dabbs won the javelin with his first throw over 80 meters this season (80.82m/265’2”). The mark stood as a meet and facility record, besting his own mark from 2022
  • Margot Appleton won the women’s 5000 invitational with a school-record time of 15:36.28
  • Alix Still also set a Virginia record in the heptathlon with her score of 5662 points
  • Jordan Hardy posted a win in the triple jump clearing 13.41 meters (44’0”) – a mark that ranks 10th in the nation
  • Conor Murphy clocked 1:47.27 in the 800 meters a mark that ranks 12th in the nation
  • Sam Romano won the pole vault invitational with a personal-best mark of 4.20 meters (13’9.25”)
  • Ashley Anumba set a meet and facility record in the women’s discus marking 58.92 meters (193’4”)
  • Dabbs and Hardy were each honored by the ACC as men’s and women’s field performers of the week following their performances

ON THE HORIZON

Following the Virginia High Performance meet, Virginia enters the championship portion of its season beginning with the ACC Championships in Raleigh, N.C. (May 11-13).