Cavaliers Win Titles at New Balance Collegiate Invitational
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Feb. 4, 2006
Virginia’ Emily Harrison led a strong contingent of Cavaliers at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational meet held today at the Armory in New York City, running a 16:43.20, an NCAA Provisional mark and moving her into the top-five all-time at Virginia. Harrison finished seventh in the meet but her time is the fastest for a Virginia runner indoors since Ellen Dwyer’s 16:39 in 2003 and she now holds the #5 spot all-time in UVa history. Four Cavaliers, including Danielle Light (800m), Tomika Ferguson (LJ), Rachel Marks (HJ), and David Sullivan (PV) each won their respective events by hitting season-best marks.
Harrison was not the only Virginia distance runner to move into the top-five all time in Cavalier history as Will Christian and Andrew Dumm both moved into the rankings in the 5K. Christian ran a 14:29.04 and Dumm finished just behind him in a personal-best 14:29.45. They now rank fourth and fifth all-time in Virginia history and in addition, both posted a time faster than the ACC leader as of last week’s meets. Harrison’s time is also better than the conference leader as of last week’s meets. Both Jan Foerster and Soeren Lindner also ran faster than the best time run by an ACC athlete in 2006 in the 3K, with Lindner running an 8:14 and Foerster posting an 8:18.00. Lindner’s 8:14 moves him into the #5 position all-time in Virginia history and both men hit seasonal-best marks in the meet. Andrew Jesien and Kevin McHale also broke into the top-10 in the ACC in the mile, running a 4:12.88 and 4:12.92, respectively, to take fifth and sixth overall. Laura Hodges and Taylor Smith also both ran personal best marks in the 5K, with Hodges running a 17:18.43 and Smith running 14:50.04.
Light’s 800m time was not only a personal best for her but also moves her into the top-three of the ACC for the season. She finished just ahead of teammate Sara Casscells, who ran a 2:15.98 and finished seventh overall. On the men’s side, Jordan Orr ran a 1:53.85 to finish third; his time also ranks in the top-three in the ACC this season.
Ferguson led a strong Virginia presence in the long jump with her 6.09m as Rachel Marks finished seventh with a jump of 19’0″, her best mark of the season. Both Ferguson and Marks moved into the ACC top-10 with their performances over the weekend; as of last week only four conference athletes had cleared 19 feet. Marks also improved her mark in the ACC in the high jump by two inches with her victory in New York City; her leap of 5′ 7″ would place her third in the current rankings.
The Cavaliers also fared well in the sprints, as Kellen Blassingame ran a season-best time in the 400 with his 47.69. Janne’a Bridgeford tied her season-best performance with a 7.61 in the 60m dash, while Lauren Echko had a season-best performance in the hurdles with an 8.77 mark. Ashley Gore took second overall in the 500m dash with her 1:13.73.
The men’s distance medley team ran their best time of the year with a 9:45.11, good enough for third at the meet. As of last week, no ACC team had broken ten minutes in the event in 2006. David Sullivan, the school-record holder in the pole vault, jumped over 17 feet for the first time this season to win the event and became just the third vaulter in the ACC in 2006 to clear the height. Billie-Jo Grant finished eighth overall in the shot put, throwing a 47′ 11.25″ while Kathryn Pettine finished seventh in the polve vault with her jump of 10′ 10″.
Full results posted below:WOMEN: 60m: Bridgeford, 7.61; Talia Wise, 7.83; Ferguson, 7.87; 200m: Wise, 24.66; 400m: Erin Crawford, 57.04; Tiffany Roberts, 58.74; 500m: Gore, 1:13.73, 2nd; 800m: Light, 2:12.72, 1st; Casscells, 2:15.98, 7th; 3000m: Lauretta Dezubay, 10:05.63; 5000m: Harrison,. 16:43.20, 7th;NCAA Prov; Laura Hodges 17:18.43; 60m Hurdles: Echko, 8.77; Jackie Bailey, 9.05; SP: Grant, 14.61m, 8th; HJ: Marks, 1.70m, 1st; LJ: Ferguson, 6.09m, 1st; Marks, 5.79m, 7th; Wise, 5.29m; TJ: Ferguson, 12.33m, 6th; PV: Pettine, 3.30m, 7th; 1600m Relay: 3:45.41, 3rd.
MEN: 60m: Reuben Jones 6.98; Tyler Hendry, 7.03; 200m: Jones, 22.96; Hendry, 23.08; 400m: Blassingame, 47.69; 800m: Orr, 1:53.85, 3rd; Michael Hagos, 1:55.84; Mile: Jesien, 4:12.88; McHale, 4:12.92, 6th; 3000m: Lindner, 8:14; Foerster, 8:18.00, 6th; 5000m: Christian, 14:29.04, 6th; Dumm, 14:29.45, 7th; Smith, 14:50.04; DMR: 9:45.11, 3rd; 60m Hurdles: Azeke, 8.37; PV: Sullivan, 5.20m, 1st; LJ: Devin Canaday, 6.90m; Azeke, 6.25m;