Cavaliers Win Titles at Virginia Tech Challenge
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Virginia’s Emily Harrison ran a 4:56.19 to win the mile at the Virginia Tech Challenge today (Feb. 18), a Virginia season-best mark. Teammates Danielle Light (4th, 5:01.48) and Lauretta Dezubay (6th, 5:04.03) also placed in the event. On the men’s side, Andrew Jesien took third with his 4:09.63, also a Virginia season-best. Jesien’s mark also moves him into the top-three in 2006 in the ACC standings. Billie-Jo Grant also moved into the top-five in the ACC standings in the shot put, throwing a season-best 49′ 3″. Men’s 800m runners Alex Tatu and Jordan Orr moved into the top-five in the conference standings with their times today as Tatu finished fourth with his 1:52.17, just edging Orr’s fifth-place 1:52.53.
Pole vaulters Kathryn Pettine and Alicia LaRoche both hit Virginia season bests today as well, vaulting 11′ 4.25″, while Bianca Debartolo also hit her best mark of the season in the shot put, throwing a 42′ 3.25″.
A number of Cavaliers placed in today’s events, including sprinters Tiffany Roberts (6th) and Rueben Jones (5th) in the 60m dash. School record holder Kellen Blassingame took fourth in the 400m with his 48.14 while finishing eighth in the 200m with his 21.85. Virginia hurdlers also placed as Isi Azeke took seventh with his 8.30 while Lauren Echko just edged Jackie Bailey for sixth, 9.07 to 9.11. Talia Wise took third in the 200m with her 25.00.
Virginia’s distance runners also placed, including Ryan Foster, who nipped Kevin McHale for sixth place in the 3000m, running 8:23.98 compared to McHale’s 8:24.35. On the women’s side, Laura Hodges took sixth with her 10:07.41, a personal best mark, and Jen Dolson raced in eighth, running 10:24.13.
Women’s results: 60m: Roberts, 7.78, 6th; 200m: Wise, 25.00, 3rd; Roberts, 25.30, 8th; 400m: Gore, 55.68, 6th; 800m: Casscells, 2:15.08, 8th; Correa, 2:21.49; Mile: Harrison, 4:56.19, 1st; Light, 5:01.48, 4th; Dezubay, 5:04.03, 6th; 3000m: Hodges, 10:07.41, 6th; Dolson, 10:24.13, 8th; 60m Hurdles: Echko, 9.07, 6th; Bailey, 9.11, 7th; HJ: Marks, 1.60m, 8th; PV: Pettine, 3.46m, 6th; LaRoche, 3.46m, 9th; LJ: Ferguson, 5.85m, 2nd; Marks, 5.64m; Tershel, 5.58m; SP: Grant, 15.01m, 5th; Debartolo, 12.88m; Manning, 12.78m; 4x400m Relay: 4:04.31
Men’s results: 60m: Jones, 6.96, 5th; 200m: Blassingame, 21.85, 8th; Jones, 22.64; Carson, 23.16; Azeke, 23.18; 400m: Blassingame, 48.14, 4th; 800m: Tatu, 1:52.17, 4th; Orr, 1:52.53, 5th; Hagos, 1:55.18; Mile: Jesien, 4:09.68, 3rd; Dumm, 4:15.53; Christian, 4:16.21; Fletcher, 4:17.17; Howick, 4:17.64; Murphy, 4:23.18; 3000m: Foster, 8:23.98, 6th; McHale, 8:24.35, 7th; Erickson, 8:43.03; 60m Hurdles: Azeke, 8.30, 7th; LJ: Assibey, 6.74m; Azeke, 6.70m; Buckley, 6.49m; 4x400m Relay: 3:25.86, 7th