Cavaliers Sweep DMR Titles at Hokie Invitational

Story Links

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia’s quartet of freshman Vanessa Fabrizio, junior Jenni Weatherly, redshirt freshman Colette Gnade and redshirt senior Stephanie Garcia combined to win the distance medley relay on Saturday at Virginia Tech’s Hokie Invitational with a time of 11:21.19. That mark stands as the fastest in the NCAA this season and is less than two seconds shy of Virginia’s school record – and former world record – set at 11:19.39 in 1982 by All-Americans Lisa Welch, Lesley Welch, Lisa Garrett and Jill Haworth.

Fabrizio opened the relay, running 3:32.01 in the 1200m before handing off to Weatherly, who completed the 400m leg in 57.64. Gnade ran 800m in 2:09.92, before Garcia wrapped up the remaining 1600m in 4:41.63.

The Cavaliers’ men’s squad also had an impressive performance in the DMR, winning the event in 9:49.30 – the second-fastest time in the NCAA this year. Redshirt freshman Taylor Gilland covered 1200m in 3:00.98, while freshman Aaron Shepperd finished 400m in 49.70, freshman Drew Paisley completed 800m in 1:52.64 and transfer junior Patrick Todd finished the mile in 4:05.99. Stanford currently leads the nation with a mark of 9:46.80.

In individual events, junior Kevin Anding finished fourth in the 400m with a personal-best time of 48.18 to move into fifth-place on Virginia’s all-time records. Freshman Thomas Devita also cracked into the program’s top-10 records, clearing 6′ 8.25″ in the high jump to tie the ninth-best mark.

The Cavaliers will return to action next weekend with some heading to State College, Pa., for the Penn State National Invitational and others going to New York City for the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden. Both events will take place on Friday, Jan. 28.