Cavaliers Record Personal-Best Performances at Virginia Grand Prix
April 29, 2017
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The Virginia women’s track and field team concluded the Virginia Grand Prix on Saturday (April 29) at Lannigan Field, with several student-athletes moving up in the East Regional qualifying standings.
The day started with sophomore Ciara Leonard (Elkins Park, Pa.) advancing her regional standing, moving to 21st in the 100m hurdles. Leonard’s time of 13.41 also ranked first in UVA history, topping her school record time from the week prior.
“Collectively, this was the best regular season meet we have had in the six years I have been here,” head coach Bryan Fetzer said. “I am so excited and just confident in where we are at heading into the championship season. We’ve got to stick to it and take care of business; however, it is great to see the emotions and to see the focus in each one of them (student-athletes). We are in a good spot.”
With a personal-best performance, sophomore Kelly McKee (Lenexa, Kan.) finished the night ranked 19th in the region for the triple jump. She reached a distance of 12.95m (42-6) to lead the meet.
Also competing in the triple jump, redshirt sophomore Mia Barron’s (Minnetonka, Minn.) mark of 12.75m (41-10) ranked her 26th in region for the event. The effort placed her third in the meet.
Barron’s night also included a first-place finish in the long jump with a distance of 6.07m (19-11).
The Cavaliers finished first in the in the 4x100m relay with senior Tori McKenzie (Chatham, Va.), senior Andrea Wright (Chesapeake, Va.), Leonard and freshman Alexis Woodley (Chesapeake, Va.), respectively, recording a time of 45.94.
In the 100m hurdles, Woodley and senior Heather Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) finished third and fourth in the meet, respectively. Woodley’s time of 13.67 ranked third in UVA history. Smith finished with a time of 13.76, fifth in school history.
McKenzie added another first-place finish to the Hoos’ night, posting a time of 11.80 in the 100m.
Next up, the Cavaliers will compete in the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The meet, hosted by Georgia Tech, will be held May 12-14 in Atlanta, Ga.