Field Events Lead Virginia at Nittany Lion Challenge
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Virginia men’s track and field team opened the 2019 indoor track and field season on Saturday (Jan. 12) at the Nittany Lion Challenge at Ashenfelter III Indoor Track in University Park, Pa.
“It was a great meet against some regional teams – Penn State, Maryland, Georgetown and Pitt,” director of track and field Bryan Fetzer said. “I’m very pleased with our competitive spirit today. The opener isn’t about how high, far or fast, but really it is about competing and putting yourself in a position to win. The next step will be learning from it as we move forward in coming weeks.
“Dey (Ayende Watson) and Trey (Causey) made impressive freshmen debuts. We were excited with how they raised their level in competition during high school. It showed today. They need to continue to learn and to make adjustments to continue the progression.”
In the first competition of his college career, freshman Trey Causey (Winchester, Va.) set a freshman record in the high jump. He cleared a height of 2.10m (6’10.75), capturing the fourth-best performance in UVA history and placing second in the event.
Senior Nace Plesko (Ljubljana, Slovenia) paced the shot put with a career-best mark of 18.27m (59’11.25″), while redshirt junior Sam Young (Lewes, Del.) topped the pole vault, clearing a height of 5.05m (16’6.75″).
Freshman Ayende Watson (Baltimore, Md.) placed second in the long jump, capturing the fourth-best jump by a freshman in program history with a mark of 7.27m (23’10.25).
Senior Emmanuel Jackson (Raleigh, N.C.) advanced to the finals of the 60m hurdles where he recorded a time of 8.22 for fourth place.
Sophomore Harry Monroe (Alexandria, Va.) finished eighth in the 3000m run with a time of 8:30.84.
In the mile, redshirt junior Johnny Pace (Chantilly, Va.) and sophomore Rohann Asfaw (Rockville, Md.) finished ninth and 10th, respectively. Pace ran a time of 4:13.78, while Asfaw recorded a time of 4:14.53.
Virginia will return to action next weekend (Jan. 18-19), competing in the two-day Keydet Invitational in Lexington, Va.