Virginia Throwers Head to Patriot Open Invitational Saturday

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.-The throwers of Virginia men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams will compete in the Patriot Open Invitational in Fairfax, Va., on Saturday (April 14).

Last time out, the Cavaliers split up for two meets, the 47th Colonial Relays in Williamsburg, Va., and the Liberty Collegiate Invitational on April 6-7.

On the first day, senior Maureen Laffan (Toms River, N.J.) broke her own school mark in the hammer throw with her first attempt of 58.70m (192′ 7″) and then launched the hammer three feet further, hitting a mark of 59.62m (195′ 7″), in her next throw. She placed first in the competition, while senior Erin Wykoff (St. Jacob, Ill) placed fifth with a distance of 53.38m (175′ 1″), the third-best mark in program history.

Fellow senior Vincenzo Chiariello (Staten Island, N.Y.) has broken the men’s school mark in the hammer throw for the third meet in a row, this time with a distance of 62.06m (203′ 7″) in his only successful throw, to place first.

At the Colonial Relays, senior Catherine White (Roanoake, Va.) won the women’s 5,000 meters in a time of 16:04.58, a new Zable Stadium and Colonial Relays record. It is also the third-fastest time in school history.

On the second day at Liberty, junior Pearl Bickersteth (Dumfries, Va.) won the women’s high jump with a mark of 1.83m (6′ 0″), the third-best mark in program history. She became the third Cavalier female to clear six feet and achieved it on her first attempt at the height Saturday.

Next up, the Cavaliers host the 2012 ACC Outdoor Championships in Charlottesville on April 19-21 at newly renovated Lannigan Field.