No. 4 UVA Finishes Action at Highlander Invitational

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April 30, 2016

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RADFORD, Va.-The No. 4 Virginia men’s track and field team finished action at the Highlander Invitational at Cupp Stadium Saturday (April 30) in Radford, Va.

The Cavaliers went 2-3 in the 800 meters with freshman Devin Barnes (Henrico, Va.) and Logan Carrington (Leesburg, Va.) both recording personal-best times of 1:50.82 and 1:50.95. Junior Kenneth Hagen (Blacksburg, Va.) was sixth in 1:53.73.

“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.”

Sophomore James Williams (Radford, Va.) placed third in the hammer throw with a mark of 50.98m (167′ 3″).

In the 400 meters, freshman Jake Dixon (Falmouth, Maine) recorded a season-best time of 48.85, finishing fourth. Dixon also placed fifth in the 200 meters with a season-best mark of 22.24.

Freshman Emmanuel Jackson (Raleigh, N.C.) placed fourth in the 110m hurdles in 14.71 (wind-aided).

UVA assistant coach Kemal Mesic, competing unattached, reached the Olympic standard in the shot put with a throw of 20.74m (68′ 0.5″), which ranks sixth on the IAAF world outdoor rankings this year. Mesic competed in the 2012 Olympic Games in London for his native Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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