Track & Field: Hawkins claims silver in second day of ACC Championships

The Virginia men’s and women’s track and field teams completed the second day of competition at the ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships at Virginia Tech’s Rector Field House with strong performances from several athletes.

Bex Hawkins highlighted the day for the Hoos with an impressive performance in the high jump. The Senior soared to a personal-best height of 1.78m (5’10”) to claim silver in the event for the Cavaliers.

Virginia’s distance runners continued their hot start to the championships as a total of six Cavaliers punched their tickets to Saturday’s finals in the mile run. Mia Barnett and Margot Appleton picked up right where they left off after setting a school record in the distance medley relay less than 24 hours prior. Barnett clinched her spot in the finals with a second-place finish in her heat (4:42.65). Appleton placed third in her heat, but a personal best time of 4:43.69 secured her place in Saturday’s finals.

The Hoos placed four mile runners in the finals on the men’s side. Wes Porter threw down the third-best qualifying time (4:04.34) in the first heat. Yasin Sado clocked in at second in the third heat while Ka’eo Kruse (4:05.57) and Nathan Mountain (4:05.97) squeaked into the finals with the ninth and tenth-best qualifying times.

Jada Seaman qualified for finals in a pair of events. Seaman turned in a personal-best time of 7.28 in the 60m as she topped her heat with the third-best qualifying time. In the 200m Seaman raced to a season-best time of 23.71 to earn herself a place in the finals.

FROM DIRECTOR OF TRACK & FIELD VIN LANANNA

“We had another great day of some inspiring performances from the student-athletes, ending with Rebecca Hawkins jumping a big personal best to take second place in the high jump. We have great momentum going into the final day with many opportunities to score points in all event areas, which is what a championship program is all about. Ultimately, this indoor conference championship will be a great springboard into the outdoor season.”

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

• Kayla Bonnick snagged a point for Virginia with a personal-best time of 7.39
• Alahna Sabbakhan recorded a personal best in the 800m (2:06.41) to earn a place in the finals
• Jacob Kelly finished eighth in the high jump to earn a point for the Hoos
• Jordan Willis turned in a season-best performance in the 400m and put down the fourth-best qualifying time to land himself a place in the finals.
• Trina Barcarola recorded a personal best (4.11m / 13’5.75) in an eighth-place finish

UP NEXT

Day three of the ACC Indoor Championships will kick off tomorrow (Feb. 26) at 12 p.m. with the men’s shot put.