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Women's Track & Field Opens Action in Iowa and New Mexico
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Feb. 13, 2015
AMES, Iowa & ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Virginia women’s track and field team began action Friday at both the Iowa State Classic and the Don Kirby Elite Meet. The Cavaliers had a number of strong performances at both meets, highlighted by an impressive day on the track in Ames.
“This is a great competition across the board and Iowa State has done a fantastic job as host,” said head coach Bryan Fetzer.
Graduate student Morgan Kelly (San Francisco, Calif.) ran the second-fastest indoor 5,000m in school history at 16:10.73 to finish third at the Iowa State Classic. Sarah Fakler (Phoenix, Ariz.) ran a season-best 16:32.91, less than a second from her indoor PR.
“I am so excited for Morgan,” said Fetzer. “There were a few times in the race when she could have lost focus and faded but she stayed focused and finished with a big kick. The ACC meet will be something special in that event.”
Virginia had three athletes reach the final of the 60m in Ames. Jordan Lavender (Nashville, Tenn.), Peyton Chaney (Belleville, Ill.) and Tori McKenzie (Chatham, Va.) will all compete in Saturday’s final after posting three of the top five times in the prelims. McKenzie also had a PR of 24.99 in the 200m to finish seventh in that event.
“Having all three girls advance to tomorrow’s final in the 60m was a great start to the day,” said Fetzer. “Each has to make some technical adjustments in the finals for them to take the next level.”
In the field events at the Iowa State Classic, Christine Bohan (Avon Lake, Ohio) had a PR in the weight throw as her mark of 52′ 9.5″ moved her into eighth on the Cavaliers’ all-time list.
In Albuquerque, the Cavalier jumpers began competing at the Don Kirby Elite Meet. First-year Mia Barron (Minnetonka, Minn.) had a season-best 19′ 6″ in the long jump, the fourth-best freshman mark in school history.
“Mia has been improving each week,” said Fetzer. “She has made some good corrections to her approach so even bigger jumps will follow shortly.”
The Cavaliers will conclude action at both meets on Saturday.