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BLACKSBURG, Va. The Virginia track and field team saw eight top-eight finishes in the opening day of the VT Challenge in Rector Field House, held at Virginia Tech Friday evening. In addition, three athletes had performances rank in the top-five of Virginia’s all-time program records.

For the women, senior Janne’a Bridgeford placed fourth in the 60-meter dash finals in a personal-best 7.50 seconds, the fifth fastest time in school history. Sophomore Ayla Smith also placed in the sprint events, finishing the 60-meter hurdles final in a time of 8.64, taking fifth place. She won her preliminaries heat, taking fifth overall, in a time of 8.66 to make it to the finals.

In the 60-meter hurdles preliminaries, freshmen Kristina Chapman and Anna Grant both put in season-best performances. Chapman finished the event in 9.20, while Grant crossed the line at the 9.34 mark.

The 200-meter dash also saw two Cavaliers put in personal-best times. Sophomore Galyn Iloka finished 10th in a season-best time of 24.76, while freshman Kisha Garrick finished in a best time of 25.49.

In field events, freshman Rashawnda James finished fourth in the long jump with a season-best jump of 19’ 1.5” / 5.83m, while junior Alexa Manning finished sixth in the weight throw, with a 56’ 1” / 17.09m mark; the second best throw all-time at Virginia.

On the men’s side, freshman Adams Abdulrazaaq led the way with a second place finish in the 60-meter hurdles finals. Running the second fastest time in school history, Abdulrazaaq finished the race in 7.98 seconds. He placed eighth in the prelims in a time of 8.15 seconds to advance to the finals.

Senior Alex Tatu picked up a third place finish in the 600 meters, in 1:21.53, to help the men’s team.

In the 60-meter dash preliminaries, senior Reuben Jones finished 10th in 6.87, while freshman Conlon Bonner and sophomore Brandon Carter finished with season-bests. Bonner crossed the line in 6.98 seconds and Carter recorded a time of 7.03 seconds.

The VT Challenge will continue tomorrow, opening with the men’s high jump at 9 a.m. Events will conclude after the men’s 4×400 relay at approximately 3 p.m.

Women:
60m prelims: Janne’a Bridgeford (7th – 7.59), Kisha Garrick (7.87); 60m finals: Janne’a Bridgeford (4th 7.50); 60m hurdles prelims: Ayla Smith (5th 8.66), Kristina Chapman (9.20), Anna Grant (9.34); 60m hurdles: Ayla Smith (5th 8.64); 200m: Galyn Iloka (24.76), Kisha Garrick (25.49).

WT: Alexa Manning (17.09m /56’1”); LJ: Rashawnda James (4th – 5.83m/19’1.5”), Kathryn Tershel (5.25m/17’2.75”).

Men:
60m prelim: Reuben Jones (6.87), Conlon Bonner (6.98), Brandon Carter (7.03); 60m hurdles prelims: Adams Abdulrazaaq (8th 8.15), Greg Nelson (8.88); 60m hurdles finals: Adams Abdulrazaaq (2nd 7.98); 200m: Conlon Bonner (21.82) Reuben Jones (21.84), Adams Abdulrazaaq (22.24), Rainer Fiala (22.28), Meikle Paschal (22.53), Bran Lee (22.95), Brandon Carter (23.08); 600m: Alex Tatu (3rd 1:21.53).

LJ: Conlon Bonner (6.93m/22’9”), Marcus Robinson (6.60m/21’8”); PV: David Lewis (4.88m/16’); WT: Kyle Galle (foul).

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