Cavaliers Win Titles at Raleigh Relays

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March 26, 2006

Virginia’s Yemi Ayeni continued his torrid start to 2006 with a win in the discus competition at the prestigious Raleigh Relays, throwing a season-best 171′ 2″ that qualified him for the NCAA East Regional meet. On the women’s side, Laura Hodges was also an individual champion, beating the field by over 36 seconds in the 10K with her 35:33.72, a personal-best mark by over 90 seconds. Teammate Billie Jo Grant scored in multiple events for the Cavaliers, taking home runner-up honors in the discus with her 172′ 11″ and sixth in the shot put with her 45′ 9.25″.

Horizontal jumpers for the Cavaliers both hit season-best marks, with All-American Tomika Ferguson hitting a personal-best mark of 19′ 5.25″ in the long jump en route to a fifth-place finish, while Katie Tershel took the bronze with her 39′ 3″.

Virginia sprinters also fared well, as first-year Talia Wise had a personal-best run of 11.97 in the 100m dash en route to a third-place finish overall with the team’s best time of the year, while Reuben Jones finished sixth overall on the men’s side in the 100m. Teammate Michael Hagos ran a season-best 1:53.93 in the 800m, a personal-best mark that earned him seventh overall.

The Cavalier relay teams also did well, as two men’s squads finished fifth overall while two women’s quartets finished fourth and a third finished in seventh. Both the men’s 4x800m (7:42.97) and 4x1500m (15:53.52) took fifth place; both the women’s 4x200m (1:39.53) and 4x1500m (18:54.90) took fourth. In addition, the women’s 4x800m team took seventh overall.

WOMEN: 100m: Talia Wise, 11.97, 3rd; Janne’a Bridgeford, 12.03p, 8th; Tiffany Roberts, 12.88; 1500m: Lauretta Dezubay, 4:42.66; 10000m: Laura Hodges, 35:33.72, 1st; 100HH: Lauren Echko, 14.48; Jackie Bailey, 15.57; Rachel Marks, 16.51; 400IH: Bailey, 1:05.00; SP: Billie-Jo Grant, 45′ 9.25 (13.95m), 6th; Alexa Manning, 41′ 7″ (12.67m); Disc: Grant, 172′ 11″ (52.72m), 2nd; Amy Bilmanis, 153′ 5″ (46.76m); HT: Bilmanis, 150′ 6″ (45.87m); Grant, 138′ 1″ (42.08m); Manning, 129′ 5″ (39.44m); Jav: Sarah Convery, 120′ 2″ (36.64m); LJ: Tomika Ferguson, 19′ 5.25″ (5.92m), 5th; Katie Tershel, 17′ 11.75″ (5.48m); Marks, 14′ 5.75″ (4.41m); TJ: Tershel, 39′ 3″ (11.96m), 3rd; 4x200m: 1:39.53, 4th; 4x800m: 9:16.13, 7th; 4x1500m: 18:54.90, 4th; SMR: 4:07.25

MEN: 100m: Reuben Jones, 10.92, 6th; Tyler Hendry, 11.44; Kevin Carson, 11.56; 800m: Michael Hagos, 1:53.93, 7th; 1500m: Andy Biladeau, 3:53.57; 5000m: Matt Gambale, 15:03.85; Will Williams, 15:38.68; 10000m: Matt Gutridge, 30:29.03; Taylor Smith, 30:53.72; SP: Yemi Ayeni, 45′ 9.25″ (13.95m); Disc: Ayeni, 171′ 2″ (52.18m), 1st, Reg Qual; 4x100m: 42.37; 4x200m: 1:30.55; 4x800m: 7:42.97, 5th; 4x1500m: 15:53.52, 5th