Virginia Sets Season-Best Marks at Virginia Tech Challenge

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Feb. 17, 2007

Virginia’s Alexa Manning threw a huge personal best mark in the shot put today at the Virginia Tech Challenge, helping her take fourth place overall at the meet. Her toss of 14.19m (46′ 6.75″) moves her up to the No. 4 all-time position at Virginia in school history, behind the school-record established by teammate Billie-Jo Grant earlier this year. Manning’s male counterparts, Eric Pickle and Rob Rankin, also both achieved personal-best marks in the shot put; Pickle threw 15.23m (49′ 11.75″) for seventh overall while Rankin threw 14.62m (47′ 11.75″).

Bianca Debartolo recorded a pair of seasonal-best marks, qualifying for the finals of the 55m hurdles with an 8.20 and finishing tenth in the long jump with her 5.58m (18′ 3.75″). All-American Tomika Ferguson also hit a season-best in the long jump with her 5.85m (19′ 2.5″) as she became the first Cavalier to clear 19 feet this year. Teammate Katie Tershel took eighth in the event with her 18′ 7.75′. On the men’s side, Reuben Jones also set a new high for the Cavaliers in the long jump as he cleared 6.74m (20′ 5.75″). David Lewis’ vault of 4.80m (15′ 9″) was a Virginia-best mark in the pole vault. Edmund Dixon took sixth overall in the 500m run with his 1:06.78.

The Cavaliers continue action tomorrow (Feb. 17) at the Virginia Tech Challenge in Blacksburg.

FRIDAY RESULTS:

WOMEN: 55m: Janne’a Bridgeford, 7.14s; Talia Wise, 7.17s; Tiffany Roberts, 7.22p; Tomika Ferguson, 7.27p; Galyn Iloka, 7.31; 55m Hurdles: Bianca Debartolo, 8.20p; Ayla Smith, 8.21; Erin Crawford, 8.40p; Keshia Ashe, 8.45; Hilary Moen, 8.72; Katie Darraugh, 8.86; Rosemary Forsyth, 8.86; SP: Alexa Manning, 46′ 6.75″, 4th; LJ: Ferguson, 19′ 2.5″, 2nd; Katie Tershel, 18′ 7.75″, 8th; DeBartolo, 18′ 3.75″

MEN: 55m: Reuben Jones, 6.42; David Lewis, 7.02; 300m: LeAndre Sherrill, 36.28; 500m: Edmund Dixon, 1:06.78, 6th; LJ: Jones, 20′ 5.75″ SP: Eric Pickle, 49′ 11.75″, 7th; Rob Rankin, 47′ 11.75″ PV: Lewis, 15′ 9″