Track & Field: UVA closes out Virginia Challenge

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The Virginia men’s and women’s track and field teams closed out the final day of the Virginia Challenge on Saturday, as the Cavaliers turned impressive performances despite scattered showers covering Lannigan Field throughout the day.

The Cavaliers swept their way through the men’s and women’s 400-meter hurdles. Emily Alexandru led things off on the women’s side nabbing the victory with a personal-best time of 58.37 seconds to move the junior into eighth on the UVA all-time list. Alex Sherman followed with a victory of his own. The sophomore also logged a personal best running 51.23. Sherman’s time currently ranks third in the ACC and places him fifth on the UVA all-time performance list.

Keara Seasholtz put down an impressive performance in the 800 meters. Running in the final heat, Seasholtz blazed to the finish to take home the victory turning 800 meters in 2:05.73. Seasholtz’ personal-best time places her at No. 7 all-time at Virginia and ranks eighth in the ACC this season.

Carly Tarentino logged her third consecutive victory in the women’s high jump. The sophomore logged a personal-best clearance for the second straight appearance posting 1.75 meters (5’8.75”). That mark puts Tarentino at No. 10 all-time at UVA and has her ranked seventh in the ACC.

In the women’s 200-meter dash, Sarah Akpan led the way for Virginia placing third overall clocking 23.97. Jada Seaman followed in sixth place running 24.15. On the men’s side, Jay Pendarvis led the way for the Cavaliers running 21.46 while freshman Jaden Lyons won his heat with a time of 21.76 seconds.

Jordan Hardy put the finishing touch on an impressive weekend for the sophomore. After winning the triple jump and joining the 13-meter club one day prior, Hardy placed sixth in the long jump posting a mark of 6.05 meters (19’10.25”).

A women’s 4×100 relay team consisting of Kayla Bonnick, Jada Seaman, Jada Pierre and Sarah Akpan grabbed a victory combining to post a time of 44.67. A men’s team of Jay Pendarvis, Nigal Davis, Jerlan Fish and Demik Starling combined to place fourth with a time of 41.02.

In the final event of the day, the Cavalier men capped off the weekend with a victory in the 4×400 meter relay. A team of Alex Sherman, Evans White IV, Tom Corel and Luke Schroeder posted a time of 3:10.70 and took the win thanks to a final surge from Schroeder on the anchor leg. A Cavalier women’s team of Sarah Akpan, Abby Comella Alahna Sabbakhan and Emily Alexandru placed second running 3:44.08.

FROM DIRECTOR OF TRACK & FIELD VIN LANANNA:

“I think we have a great, well-rounded program here at the University of Virginia. To make that possible, you not only need great performances on the track, but you need to be integrated with the community and across the university. That’s what we saw this weekend, and that’s what the Virginia Challenge does.”

UP NEXT

The Cavaliers will be back in action next week as the team travels to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to compete in the prestigious Penn Relays (April 28-29) before returning to Lannigan Field to host the Virginia High Performance meet on Sunday, where the program will honor its seniors.