Cavaliers Finish First Day of Penn Relays

PHILADELPHIA-The Virginia track and field team completed action on the first day of the Penn Relays Thursday (April 26) at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

Senior Maureen Laffan (Toms River, N.J.) earned bronze in the women’s championship hammer throw with a mark of 58.99m (193′ 6″). That distance came on her fifth attempt.

Sophomore Abbey Karin (Byfield, Mass.) placed second in the women’s college javelin with a season-best mark of 44.67m (146′ 6″) on her fourth attempt. Her mark is the sixth-best in program history. Senior Tara Karin (Byfield, Mass.) finished fourth with a distance of 43.80m (143′ 8″).

In the women’s college high jump, sophomore Emily Kianka (Pennington, N.J.) placed seventh with a height of 1.72m (5′ 7.75″), while freshman Moira Cronin (Andover, Mass.) finished 15th (1.64m (5′ 4.5″).

Junior Emily Vannoy (Frederick, Md.) was seventh in the women’s college discus throw (44.88m – 147′ 2″) and eighth in the women’s college shot put (14.45m – 47′ 5″).

In the women’s 4×400-meter relay of freshman Jordan Lavender (Nashville, Tenn.), senior Meagan Gillespie (Brooklyn, N.Y.), junior Danielle Williams (Alexandria, Va.) and freshman Jordan Stokes (Richmond, Va.) placed fourth in its heat and 28th overall in 3:44.24.

The action continues Friday (April 27) at Franklin Field.