April 20, 2018

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.- The No. 23 Virginia men’s track and field team was led by its field performers on the opening day of the Virginia Challenge Friday (April 20) at Lannigan Field.

Junior Hilmar Jonsson (Reykjavik, Iceland) topped the hammer throw, recording a season-best throw of 71.09m (233’3″) with his last attempt of the night. His performance currently ranks eighth in the NCAA, advancing him from his ninth-place ranking heading into the weekend.

“It was good for our two All-Americans, Pobo and Hilmar, to produce season bests in clutch moments tonight,” director of track and field Bryan Fetzer said. “The pieces to the puzzle keep coming together. Each day needs to be better than the last.”

Redshirt junior Oghenakpobo Efekoro (Brooklyn, N.Y.) finished second in the shot put behind former UVA student-athlete Jordan Young. Efekoro recorded a mark of 19.14m (62-9.5), recording the 14th-best performance in the NCAA.

Junior Nace Plesko (Ljubljana, Slovenia) finished second in the men’s discus. With his last throw in the event, Plesko recorded a mark of 50.32m (165-1).

Red sophomore Sam Young (Lewes, Del.) placed second in the pole vault, clearing a height of 5.06m (16’7.25″).

In the 3000m steeplechase, redshirt sophomore Matthew Novak (Glen Allen, Va.) finished 12th with a time of 9:00.15.

Freshman Brandon Outlaw (Moorestown, N.J.) led Virginia in the 400m invite, finishing with a time of 48.11 for 11th place.

Virginia will return to action tomorrow for the second day of competition at the Virginia Challenge. Events will begin at 10:30 a.m.