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BLACKSBURG, Va. – In day two of the Virginia Tech Challenge, the Virginia track and field team put together a strong performance in preparation for next weekends Atlantic Coast Conference Indoor Championships. The squad saw 21 top-eight finishes, in addition to 17 season-high performances in the final day of the meet held in Rector Field House. Fourteen women placed in scoring position, while seven men finished in the top of their events.

The mile run was the highlight for the women’s side, which featured five Cavaliers in the top-eight spots in the event. Senior Suzanne Ginnow led the pack, finishing second with a season-best time of 4:58.93. Junior Lauretta Dezubay was close behind, picking up third-place in a personal-best time of 4:59.48, while sixth-place belonged to sophomore Diana Burk, who crossed the line in her fastest time this season (5:02.89). Junior Susan Brooks and senior Janine Ricci rounded out the top-eight with Brooks finishing the race in 5:03.81 and Ricci completing it in 5:09.09.

Sophomore Megan Durkee and senior Jen Dolson also put in season-high marks in the mile, finishing in 5:13.04 and 5:17.91, respectively.

In the 800 meter run, senior Huma Husain led three Cavalier finishers with a season-best performance of 2:12.67, good for fourth-place. Junior Sara Casscells placed sixth in 2:13.75, while Jennifer Hovland picked up eighth in a time of 2:15.07. Freshman Valarie Wilder contributed a personal-best time of 2:18.82 in the event.

In the long distance events, sophomore Samantha Stafford placed eighth in the 3,000 meter run in a personal-best time of 10:08.35. Sophomore Ayla Smith rounded out the women’s personal-best performances on the day, finishing the 400 meters in 56.53 seconds.

In field events, freshmen Assiatu Williams and Katie Trizna both tied their personal-best jumps to place in the high jump. Williams’ jump of 5’6.5”/1.69m took third place, while Trizna tied for seventh with a 5’4.5”/1.64m mark.

Junior Alexa Manning took third in the shot put with her best throw of the season (48’ 6.25”/14.79m), and freshman Rashawnda James set a new personal-best in the triple jump. Her 40’ /12.19m leap was good for sixth place.

For the men, junior Andrew Jesien led the way with a second-place finish in the mile run. Jesien finished in 4:06.10, while classmate Andy Biladeau was close behind, picking up third-place in a season-best time of 4:06.83. Senior Michael Hagos put in a season-best time also, crossing the line in 4:15.01.

Sophomore Trey Miller and seniors Will Williams and Jordan Orr also placed for the men’s side. Miller picked up third in the 3,000-meters in a personal-best time of 8:26.95, while Williams completed the event in 8:38.98, good for eighth. Orr crossed the 800-meter line in sixth in 1:52.41.

The men’s 4×400 relay team rounded out the scoring on the track, putting together a fourth place finish in 3:14.52.

In the field events, freshman Meikle Paschal and sophomore Eric Pickle put in personal-best performances in their respective events. Paschal jumped 6’4.25”/1.94m in the high jump and Pickle threw a mark of 50’6”/15.39m in the shot put.

The team will be back in action next weekend, traveling to Chapel Hill, N.C., for the ACC Indoor Championships. Events will begin on Thursday.

Women:
400m: Galyn Iloka (56.47), Ayla Smith (56.53), Kristina Chapman (58.42), Lyndsay Harper (DNF); 800m: Huma Husain (4th 2:12.67), Sara Casscells (6th 2:13.75), Jennifer Hovland (8th 2:15.07), Morgan Bolen (2:16.49), Valarie Wilder (2:18.82), Ariane Sloan (DNF); 1 Mile: Suzanne Ginnow (2nd 4:58.93), Lauretta Dezubay (3rd 4:59.48), Diana Burk (6th 5:02.89), Susan Brooks (7th 5:03.81), Janine Ricci (8th 5:09.09), Megan Durkee (5:13.04), Jen Dolson (5:17.91); 3000m: Samantha Stafford (8th 10:08.35); 4×400 Relay: Virginia (3:57.93).

HJ: Assiatu Williams (3rd – 5’6.5”/1.69m), Katie Trizna (t-7th 5’4.5”/1.64m), Callie Hlavin (NH), Anna Grant (NH); TJ: Rashawnda James (6th 40’/12.19m), Katie Tershel (37’3.75”/11.37m); PV: Kathleen Darraugh (5th 11’7.75”/3.55m); SP: Alexa Manning (3rd 48’6.25”/14.79m);

Men:
400m: Meikle Paschal (48.91), Brian Lee (49.90), Rainer Fiala (50.99); 800m: Jordan Orr (6th 1:52.41), Andrew Lobb (1:55.71), Alex Bowman (1:56.13), Stephen Finley (1:56.44), Edmund Dixon (1:59.38); 1 Mile: Andrew Jesien (2nd 4:06.10), Andy Biladeau (3rd 4:06.83), Kevin Tschirhart (4:14.22), Michael Hagos (4:15.01), Clark Chris (4:18.40), 3000m: Trey Miller (3rd 8:26.95), Will Williams (8th 8:38.98), Graham Tribble (8:42.93), Alec Lorenzoni (8:51.71), James Erickson (8:52.60); 4×400 Relay: Virginia (4th 3:14.52), Virginia B’ (3:23.63).

HJ: Arthur Gennari (6’6.75”/2.00m), Greg Nelson (6’4.25”/1.94m), Meikle Paschal (6’4.25”/1.94m); SP: Yemi Ayeni (2nd 56’10.25”/17.33m), Eric Pickle (50’6”/15.39m); TJ: Marcus Robinson (48’8”/14.83m).

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