Cavaliers Use Rams Invite as Final Tune-Up for ACCs

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia track and field team will head to the Rams Invitational on Saturday as its final tune-up for the 2011 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships. The competition will take place at VCU’s Sports Backer Stadium and is set to begin with the hammer throw and 5000m run at 10 a.m.

Led by redshirt senior Stephanie Garcia, six Cavaliers are ranked in the top 25 of the NCAA in their respective events this year. Garcia, an All-American in the steeplechase, leads the nation with a time if 9:56.96 in the event from the Mason Spring Invitational. She is also ranked 15th nationally in the 1500m, running 4:22.64 at the Colonial Relays.

Junior All-American Morgane Gay and sophomore Brett Johnson are also nationally ranked in the 1500m. At George Mason, Gay ran the 10th-fastest time in the NCAA – a mark of 4:21.75 – while Johnson finished the men’s race in 3:44.44, the 11th-best time nationally.

In other track events, senior All-American Adams Abdulrazaaq is ranked 17th in the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.89 from the Spec Towns Invitational, while sophomore All-American Robby Andrews sits 23rd nationally in the 800m. Andrews opened his outdoor season running 1:49.59 at last weekend’s Mason Invitational.

In field events, junior Andy Fahringer leads the way in the javelin. Fahringer ranks ninth nationally with his career-best throw of 239′ 7″ from the Raleigh Relays.

Up next, the Cavaliers will head to Durham, N.C., for the 2011 ACC Championships. The conference meet is scheduled to run Thursday-Saturday, April 21-23.