Yemi Ayeni Moves to No. 2 All-time at Virginia in Shot Put
Story Links
Twenty-one Virginia track and field athletes hit personal best marks this weekend as the Cavaliers competed at the Virginia Tech Invitational, led by Yemi Ayeni’s six-foot PR in the shot put that moved him to the No. 2 position all-time in school history. Ayeni’s toss of 57’ 5” is just 4.75” short of Kevin Latham’s school record of 57’ 9.75” from 1984. He finished third in the event today. A pair of high jumpers, Greg Nelson and Arthur Gennari, also hit PRs. Nelson’s 6’ 9.75” moved him to the No. 6 spot all-time in school history with his first collegiate mark, while Gennari’s 6’ 8.75” moves him into a tie for seventh all-time. Reuben Jones also hit a PR for the second consecutive day, notching a 21.95 in the 200. He is only the fifth person in school history to break 22 seconds in the 200 indoors.
Nelson finished third in the high jump with Gennari right behind him in sixth. Conlon Bonner took seventh in the long jump, leaping 23’ 2.5” in his first collegiate meet. The mark is just one inch away from breaking into the top-10 all-time in school history. On the track. Alex Bowman took eighth in the 1000 with his 2:29.33. The two relay teams both finished in the top seven as the 4×200 took fourth (1:29.89) and the 4×400 team was seventh (3:19.13).
Assiatu Williams also performed well in her opening meet, leaping 5’ 6.5” to take second in the high jump while classmate Katie Trizna finished fifth with her 5’ 4.5”. Diana Burk (mile) and Rashawnda James (long jump) also both took home fifth place finishes in their respective events; James just outleapt Katie Tershel in the long jump. Tershel finished seventh with her 18’ 5”.
The Cavaliers return to action next weekend at the Maryland Invitational in College Park.
Saturday Results:
Men:
200m: Reuben Jones, 6th, 21.95; 1000m: Alex Bowman, 8th; 2:29.33; Edmund Dixon, 2:39.19; Mile: Jordan Orr, 4:27.27; 3000m: Robbie Eckardt, 8:48.44; SP: Yemi Ayeni, 3rd, 57’ 5”; Eric Pickle, 49’ 3”; LJ: Conlon Bonner, 7th, 23’ 2.5”; Marcus Robinson, 21’ 7.25”; Vincent Parker, 18’ 3.75”; HJ: Greg Nelson, 3rd, 6’ 9.75; Arthur Gennari, 6th, 6’ 8.75”; Mieke Paschal, 6’ 4.75”. 4×200: 4th, 1:29.89. 4x400m: 7th, 3:19.13
Women:
400m: Kristina Chapman, 57.83; Chidimma Uche, 1:00.92; 1000m: Morgan Bolen, 3:03.47; Mile: Diana Burk, 5th, 5:11.41; Megan Durkee, 5:17.74; Valerie Wilder, 5:23.41; Abby Clement, 5:32.63; LJ: Rashawnda James, 5th, 18’ 8”; Katie Tershel, 7th, 18’ 5”; Kisha Garrick, 16’ 7.75”; HJ: Assiatu Williams, 2nd, 5’ 6.5”; Katie Trizna, 5th, 5’ 4.5”. 4x200m: 2nd, 1:38.93. 4x400m: 4:00.12