Leonard, Sullivan Pick Up Wins at Highlander Invitational

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April 30, 2016

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RADFORD, Va.-The Virginia women’s track and field team concluded action at the Highlander Invitational at Cupp Stadium Saturday (April 30) in Radford, Va.

Freshman Ciara Leonard (Elkins Park, Pa.) won the 100m hurdles in 13.63 (wind-aided), while fellow freshmen Alana Herran (Orange, N.J.) and Carly Feyerabend (Mechanicsville, Va.) placed fifth (14.51) and sixth (14.65), respectively. Leonard’s prelim time of 13.90 moved her into a tie for sixth on UVA’s all-time list and second on the freshman list. Herran’s prelim time of 14.09 ranks her fifth on UVA’s freshman list.

In the 400m hurdles, sophomore Holly Sullivan (Chester Springs, Pa.) won in a time of 1:02.91.

“Our young ones had some big breakthroughs and we accomplished a lot this weekend under not so ideal weather conditions,” UVA director of track and field/cross country Bryan Fetzer said. “It has been a rough spring weather-wise and I commend our student-athletes for never using it as an excuse, but learning to deal with it and produce.

“We will be prepared for any type of weather during the championship part of our season. It has a lot to do with the performance you have but at the same time is something everyone in the competition has to deal with. Those that can block it out and focus on the task at hand are the one that have the most success. It seems like it rains in Florida every time we go there, so we should be experts with dealing with it.”

In the 4x100m relay where UVA had the only two entries, the team of juniors Heather Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) and Andrea Wright (Chesapeake, Va.), senior Peyton Chaney (Belleville, Ill.) and junior Tori McKenzie (Chatham, Va.) placed first in a time of 45.94.

The Cavaliers had a strong showing in the 200 meters with Chaney finishing second in 23.89, Wright was third in 24.39 and McKenzie, sophomore Kiana Hairston (Manassas, Va.) and junior Chimere Ezumah (Gardena, Calif.) were 4-6, respectively.

Junior Micah Brickhill (Buckingham, Va.) finished third in the 800 meters with a time of 2:10.67.

In the 400 meters, Ezumah posted a season-best time of 55.22, placing second, while Wright was third in 57.31.

Hairston finished second in the 100 meters in 12.07 (wind-aided).

Senior Jessica Caldwell (Owings Mills, Md.) placed third in the triple jump with a mark of 12.06m (39′ 7″ – wind-aided).

Up next, the Cavaliers compete at the ACC Championships May 13-15 in Tallahassee, Fla.