Cavaliers Top Qualifiers at ACC Track & Field Championships

Story Links

April 23, 2005

Virginia’s Alex Tatu posted the top qualifying time in the 1500 and also was one of the top qualifiers in the 800 as the Cavalier track and field teams continued action on Friday (April 22) at the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Tallahassee. Tatu finished behind teammate and top qualifier McGavock Dunbar in the 800 as the men had three athletes qualify for the final as Virginia was the only school to have more than one student-athlete in the top eight of the preliminaries. Virginia’s steeplechasers also finished 3-4 as Soeren Lindner took the bronze and Walt Kingsbery took fourth as the Cavaliers were the only school to place two athletes in the top four of the event.

Both Lindner and Kingsbery qualified for the NCAA Regional meet with their times, the top two times this season for the Cavaliers. Lindner’s time also moves him to the #3 spot all-time in Virginia history in the steeple, while Kingsbery moves up to #6 with his personal best time.

Dunbar, who won the ACC title in 2003, led three Cavaliers into the final of the 800m race as first-year Jordan Orr joined Dunbar and Tatu. Tatu also qualified for the Regional meet in the 800m, which was his personal best time. Kevin McHale will join Tatu in the 1500m final.

The men’s team had a qualifier in each of the 100, 200 and 400 as well, as first-year Reuben Jones had a personal best 10.65 in the 100 and Kellen Blassingame also had a personal best 21.40 in the 200. Blassingame, the school record holder in the 400m, also qualified in that event. Isi Azeke, who qualified for the NCAA Regional meet last week, qualified for the ACC finals in the 110 hurdles with his 14.49 in today’s competition. Thomas Codevilla took seventh in the decathlon with his personal best score of 6070.

On the women’s side, Ashley Gore became the first Cavalier to break 55 seconds this year with her 54.97, a personal best time that qualified her for the finals. Shannon Hawrylo and Sara Ensrud both qualified for the finals of the 1500m, while Erin Crawford ran a 58.58 to qualify for the ACC finals in the 400 hurdles.

Janine Ricci finished sixth in the steeplechase with a personal best time of 10:36.58, lowering her NCAA Regional qualifying time. Billie Jo Grant also scored for the Cavaliers, taking fifth in the shot put with her toss of 48′ 4″ (14.73m).

Day two results listed below:WOMEN: 100m: Bridgeford, 12.06; Ferguson, 12.16; Oluwole, 12.51; 200m: Bridgeford, 24.74; Oluwole, 25.87; 400m: Gore, 54.97, qual; Roberts, 56.42; 800m: Hawrylo, 2:10.71; Ensrud, 2:12.52; 1500m: Hawrylo, 4:31.28, qual; Ensrud, 4:34.08, qual; Ginnow, 4:44.13; 100HH: Ashe, 15.01; Smith, 15.01; Bailey, 15.02; 400IH: Crawford, 58.58, qual; Ashe, 1:02.93; Bailey, 1:03.29; Steeple: Ricci, 10:36.58, 6th; PV: Pettine, 11′ 3.75″ LJ: Marks, 18′ 4.25″ Tershel, 17′ 11.5″ Smith, 16′ 7.75″ Ferguson, 16′ 5″ SP: Grant, 48′ 4″, 5th

MEN: 100m: Jones, 10.65, qual; Carson, 11.31; 200m: Blassingame, 21.40, qual; Jones, 22.05; Carson, 22.94; 400m: Blassingame, 46.49, qual; 800m: Dunbar, 1:49.53, qual; Tatu, 1:49. 92, qual; Orr, 1:50.75, qual; Davis, 1:52.10; Hagos, 1:53.94; 1500m: Tatu. 3:50.97, qual; McHale, 3:54.53, qual; 110HH: Azeke, 14.49, qual; Canaday, 15.04; 400IH: Canaday, 57.77; Steeple: Lindner, 8:51.89, 3rd; Kingsbery, 8:86.17, 4th; Neuhart,. 9:16.54; HJ: Sullivan, 6′ 4.75″ :LJ: Azeke, 22′ 4.25″ Hammer: Anderson, 164′ 2″ Decathlon, Codevilla, 6070, 7th.