Cavaliers Opens Competition in Texas and Raleigh

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March 28, 2014

AUSTIN, Texas & RALEIGH, N.C. – The Virginia track and field teams began competition Friday at a pair of meets where they took on some of the nation’s top teams. The Cavaliers sent athletes to the Texas Relays in Austin and the Raleigh Relays at NC State, posting strong performances at both.

In Austin, the Cavaliers had several athletes set PRs and school top-10 performances as they competed against an elite field. Filip Mihaljevic (Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina) won his section of the men’s shot put with a throw of 59-6.25, the third-best mark in school history and the second best by a freshman.

“Taking into account the abrupt change in temperature we have experienced past two days from 30s in Charlottesville to 90s in Texas, and the fact that we are still in the base training at this point, I am very pleased with Filip’s PR in the shot put today,” said assistant coach Martin Maric. “This result gives us confidence and confirmation that his best marks are yet to come in following competitions.”

Dallas Rose (Pearland, Texas) was third in the women’s triple jump, with a jump of 52-5.25, the third-best mark in school history. Ryan Satchell (Central Islip, N.Y.) won his flight in the men’s triple jump, with a jump of 51-0.

“For Dallas, today was a long anticipated homecoming,” said assistant coach Mario Wilson. “A Houston native, she had what seemed to be about 20 family members in the stands and she did not disappoint. It was easily the best series of her career as she was consistently near her PR in both outdoor meets thus far. Ryan competed very well today, much like he has all year. His performance today reaffirms his PR jump that he had last week. This consistency at a high level is what it will take for Ryan to extend his season into the summer months.”

Virginia closed out the first day in Texas with the sprint relays. The women’s team of Tori McKenzie (Chatham, Va.), Peyton Chaney (Belleville, Ill.), Chimere Ezumah (Gardena, Calif.) and Vanessa Fabrizio (Denver, Colo.) finished fifth in a time of 3:52.26. The men’s team of David Bartha (Bonyhad, Hungary), Austin Chavez (Annandale, Va.), Peyton Hazzard (Huntington, N.Y.) and Anthony Kostelac (Charlottesville, Va.) finished eighth in a time of 3:22.87, the fifth fastest time in school history.

The Cavaliers also sent a large contingent to Raleigh, where they the distance runners found success.

In the final event of the day, Adam Visokay (Ruckersville, Va.) ran a UVa freshman record of 29:14.50 in the men’s 10000m, the fourth fastest time in school history, to finish third. Thomas Porter (Fredericksburg, Va.) finished ninth in a time of 29:36.14, and Zach Herriott (Kansas City, Mo.) was 14th, in a time of 29:45.35, the second-fastest freshman time in school history and moving him into the top 10 all-time at Virginia.

Maria Hauger (Shakopee, Minn.) posted the sixth-fastest time in school history in the women’s 1500m, the second fastest by a freshman, with a time of 16:14.18.

Sara Sargent (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Kendall Cowne (Chantilly, Va.) had the second and third fastest freshman times in school history in the 3000m steeplechase. Mike Marsella (Hope Valley, R.I.) had the fifth-fastest freshman time in the 1500m in school history.

Virginia will conclude action at both meets on Saturday.