Feb. 2, 2018

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ANN ARBOR, Mich.– The Virginia women’s track and field team completed the opening day of the Power Five Invitational, hosted by Michigan, at the U-M Indoor Track Building in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Friday (Feb. 2).

Senior Holly Sullivan (Chester Springs, Pa.) paced the team, recorded a personal-best score in the pentathlon, finishing fifth with 3,789 points and tying for fourth on UVA’s all-time performance list. Additionally, she captured a personal-best effort in four out of five of her events and set a stadium record in the first year of the U-M Indoor Track Building in the 800m with a time of 2:14.62.

“Holly has a few technical adjustments that need to be made before ACCs, but we can’t be too disappointed since she has had PBs (personal best) in all five events this year,” director of track and field Bryan Fetzer said. “Very confident she will be on point for ACCs.”

Sophomore Alexis Woodley (Chesapeake, Va.) and junior Ciara Leonard (Elkins Park, Pa.) advanced to the finals of the 60m hurdles after finishing fourth and fifth, respectively. Woodley recorded a time of 8.54, while Leonard recorded a time of 8.55.

Sophomore Anna Jefferson (Warren, Mich.) advanced to the finals in the 60m dash after finishing fifth with a time of 7.52. Her time ranked seventh on UVA’s all-time best list.

Junior Alana Herran (Orange, N.J.) finished 10th in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.71, a personal best.

Junior Jade Baker (North Richland Hills, Texas) and freshman Brittany Jones (Bloomfield, Conn.) both recorded personal-best marks in the weight throw, finishing eighth and ninth, respectively. Baker finished with a mark of 16.61m (54’6″), seventh-best performance in school history, while Jones recorded a performance of 15.89m (52’1.75″).

“Jade’s persistence and proclivity for hard work are paying off dividends,” assistant coach Martin Maric said. “She has been getting stronger and faster day after day, so the maelstrom of personal records she launched today was just a matter of time.”

The distance relay of freshman Madelin Rennyson (Lynchburg, Va.), Herran, freshman Mary Blankemeier (Oak Park, Ill.) and freshman Kiera Bothwell (Springfield, Va.), respectively, finished seventh with a time of 12:14.10.

The Cavaliers will return to action tomorrow for day two of the Power Five Invitational. The competition will begin at 9:30 a.m.