Cavaliers Compete at Notre Dame and Virginia Tech
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March 2, 2013
BLACKSBURG, Va./NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Virginia men’s and women’s track and field teams concluded their final meets before the NCAA Championships on Saturday with athletes competing at the Alex Wilson Invitational at Notre Dame and the Virginia Tech Final Qualifier. These meets were the final chance for athletes to secure a spot at next week’s NCAA meet.
At the Alex Wilson Invitational at Notre Dame, the Cavaliers had two athletes in action on Saturday. Vicky Fouhy ran 4:34.87 in the mile to finish second, topping her PR by over seven seconds and the third fastest time in school history. That time likely will be one of the top 16 times nationally to earn her a place at the NCAA Championships.
“We are really proud of Vicky and she had a fantastic run today,” said head coach Bryan Fetzer. “Coach Morgan has been saying for weeks that Vicky was ready for a major breakthrough, and that came today. Morgane Gay ran a similar time last year, and she was an All-American, so that tells you the level Vicky ran at today.”
Jordan Lavender also competed at Notre Dame and finished second in the women’s 400m in a time of 53.18, just shy of her school record time of 53.14 set last week at the ACC Championships. That time had her 18th in the nation in the 400m entering the weekend, putting her on the bubble for a potential NCAA selection.
“Jordan had another good performance today,” said Fetzer. “I am just disappointed that she didn’t have the chance last week at ACCs to run head-to-head against some of the competition she had today. She beat some of the best quarter-milers in the nation today, so even if she doesn’t make NCAAs, she should have a lot of confidence moving forward that she can run with anyone.”
A majority of the team competed Saturday at the Virginia Tech Final Qualifier on the same track as last week’s ACC Championships. Among the top performers was Dallas Rose, who finished fourth in the women’s triple jump. She entered the weekend ranked 12th nationally in the event and will likely have the chance to return to the NCAA meet, where she earned All-American status last season.
“Dallas knew she was on the bubble entering the meet and had to protect her spot,” said Fetzer. “Being able to do that should give her a lot of confidence as she looks to be an All-American again.”
The NCAA will announce the participants for next week’s NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships on Monday. The top 16 individuals and 12 relay teams in each event are assured of selection. The meet runs Friday and Saturday at the University of Arkansas.