Women's Track & Field Dominates at Virginia Cup

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March 21, 2015

Complete Results | Men’s Recap

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Virginia women’s track & field team started its outdoor season in impressive style with a strong performance at the Virginia Cup at Lannigan Field. The Cavaliers posted four dual-meet victories at the meet, winning 13 of the 19 events.

Virginia defeated Norfolk State 120-27, topped James Madison 119-37, downed Radford 116-40 and won 93-69 over Liberty.

“The performances overall were competitive with a lot of learning involved,” said head coach Bryan Fetzer. “The first meet of the outdoor season is a time for teaching and getting familiar with new events that are not contested indoors. There is a transition shifting from indoors to outdoors. We handled it well and its sets us up for continued success in the season.”

Peyton Chaney (Belleville, Ill.) was a double winner on the afternoon, taking the 100m and 200m titles. In the 100m, she led a 1-2 finish as she won in 11.68, edging teammate Jordan Lavender (Nashville, Tenn.), who crossed in 11.77. In the 200m, she won in 23.94 while Lavender was third in 24.00.

Christine Bohan (Avon Lake, Ohio) moved into second on Virginia’s all-time list in the shot put, winning the event with a mark of 52-4.5. She also finished second in the hammer throw with a PR of 153-9.

In the 800m, the Cavaliers went 1-2-3 with Sara Sargent (Philadelphia, Pa.) winning in a time of 2:11.93. Iona Lake (Norwich, England) was second in 2:12.61 and Micah Brickhill (Buckingham, Va.) was third in 2:16.80.

The Cavaliers also had the top three in the 3000m. Kathleen Stevens (Blacksburg, Va.) won in 10:05.92, ahead of Sarah Fakler (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Laura Pierce (Ogdensburg, N.Y.).

Virginia had the four of the top five finishers in the 1500m. Lake crossed in 4:27.10 to win, followed by Kathleen Stevens (Blacksburg, Va.). Fakler was fourth and Vanessa Fabrizio (Denver, Colo.) was fifth.

In the 400m, the Cavaliers had three of the top four finishers. Andrea Wright (Chesapeake, Va.) won in a time of 56.25, with Chimere Ezumah (Gardena, Calif.) and Kiana Hairston (Manassas, Va.) finishing in third and fourth.

The Cavalier first-year pole vaulters were impressive in their outdoor debut. Bridget Guy (Greensburg, Pa.) won the event by clearing 12-5.5, a UVa freshman record and the second-best height in school history, just a half inch shy of the school record. Katie Freix (Chantilly, Va.) was third by clearing 11-5.75, the seventh-best height in school history and the third-best by a freshman.

Redshirt-freshman Cailtin Mautz (Doylestown, Pa.) won the javelin competition with a mark of 146-5, the seventh-best in school history and the fourth-best by a freshman.

Moira Cronin (Andover, Mass.) made her 2015 debut to win the high jump, clearing 5-5.75. Heather Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) won the 400-meter hurdles in 1:01.83, just off her PR from last season. Kendall Cowne (Chantilly, Va.) was victorious in the 2000m steeplechase, winning in a time of 7:14.07.

The 4x400m relay of Fabrizio, Ezumah, Smith and Brickhill won in a time of 3:47.53 in the final event of the day on the track.

Virginia will return to action next week with athletes competing at the Fred Hardy Invitational, which runs March 27-28 in Richmond, Va.