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Nov. 24, 2015

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.-Members of the Virginia track and field program wrapped up fall training competing in the fourth annual team pentathlon Monday afternoon (Nov. 24).

On the women’s side, the Blue team won a hotly-contested meet, 199.3-198, while the Blue men’s team also was victorious, 287.4-261.

Junior All-American Filip Mihaljevic defended his overall male title with 439 points (407 in 2014). Mihaljevic won four outright event titles, including the standing triple jump (9.33m), standing long jump (3.42m), between the legs forward shot throw (18.82m) and overhead backward shot throw (21.18m). Mihaljevic tied with Scott Clarke for the best time in the 30-meter dash, 3.84. Other past men’s winners include Clarke in 2013 (308 points) and Ryan Satchell in 2012 (301 points).

Junior Tori McKenzie won her third-consecutive overall women’s title with 300 points (284 in 2014, 279 in 2013). McKenzie captured three event wins, including the standing triple jump (8.10m), 30-meter dash (4.05) and between the legs forward shot throw (16.16m). Junior Chimere Ezumah won the standing long jump (2.83m) and junior Christine Bohan was the top performer in the overhead backward shot throw (16.89m). The only other women’s champion was Danielle Williams in 2012 (291 points).

“It is a fun and competitive way to gauge where we are, at this time of our preparation,” Virginia director of track and field/cross country Bryan Fetzer said. “Several universities around the country partake in a similar form of testing during the same time period. I’ve had my teams do the November pentathlon since 2005 so I can see where each individual stands in all event areas. I know we are way ahead as a program today then we were last year at this point. Some of that comes with experience, but the upperclassmen have taken a very focused approach this year. There are lots of positives as we head into the indoor season.”

The annual pentathlon is held the week before Thanksgiving each fall, pitting the program’s sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers and throwers against one another in a competition boasting five events, including the 30-meter dash, standing long jump, standing triple jump, between the legs forward shot throw and overhead backward shot throw.

The student-athletes compete for themselves as well as for one of two teams, Blue and Orange. Competitors are ‘drafted’ in a side and compete for that squad until leaving Grounds. New student-athletes are drafted by the upperclassmen on the current teams with the losing team from the year before having the first pick.

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