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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia track and field team will open its 2008 outdoor season this weekend at the 49er Classic in Charlotte, N.C. Fifty-two Cavaliers will travel to the Irwin Belk Track & Field Center to compete in the three-day event.

The women’s heptathlon will kick off the meet at 11 a.m., Thursday morning, with the men’s decathlon beginning at 11:45 a.m. Six Cavaliers will take part in the events, with Callie Hlavin, Anna Grant and Katie Trizna participating in the heptathlon. David Lewis, Greg Nelson and Adams Abdulrazaaq will participate in the decathlon.

On Friday, the women’s hammer throw, featuring Amy Bilmanis and Alexa Manning will begin at noon. The running events will begin at 2 p.m., with the 100m hurdle prelims. Six Cavaliers will race for Virginia, led by Lauren Echo, Ayla Smith, Chidimma Uche and Keshia Ashe, who hold four of the top five seed times in the event.

The 100m and 400m dashes will follow the hurdle events, led by All-American Brian Lee in the 400m. The 400m hurdles will then again feature Smith, who leads four other Cavaliers in the event and holds the top seed time. Janne’a Bridgeford will lead six women in the 200m dash, while seven men, led by Reuben Jones will also compete in the long sprint.

Stephanie Garcia and Stephen Finley will lead 11 Cavaliers in the 1500m run, before Kevin Tshirhart and All-Americans Alex Tatu and Emil Heineking close out the day, racing the 5K, set to begin at 9:25 p.m.

The men’s hammer throw, women’s pole vault and discus, and men’s and women’s long jump will also take place throughout Friday.

Saturday will begin with the men’s and women’s shot put events, featuring Manning and Eric Pickle. Meghan Briggs and Caitlin Kelly will compete in the javelin throw, while Marcus Robinson, Rashawnda James and Katie Tershel will participate in the triple jump. Meikle Paschal and Assiatu Williams will compete in the high jump and Pickle will round out the field event competitors in the discus.

On the track Saturday, the 4x100m relay teams will begin the final day of competition at 11 a.m. The 3000m steeplechase will follow, before the finals for Friday’s preliminary events will take place.

Susan Brooks, Valarie Wilder and Megan Durkee will then race the 800m for the women, followed by Janine Ricci and Jen Dolson in the 3K. The meet will conclude with the 4x400m relay teams.

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