Virginia Concludes Columbia Challenge
NEW YORK- The Virginia women’s track and field team concluded action at the Dr. Sanders Columbia Challenge on Saturday (Jan. 26) at the New York City Armory in New York.
Three Cavaliers recorded a top-three finish at the meet as redshirt senior Mia Barron (Minnetonka, Minn.) captured the third-best jump in the triple jump with a mark of 12.48m (40’11.5″). Redshirt freshman Halle Hazzard (Commack, N.Y.) finished third in the 200m dash, setting a freshman record and recording the fifth-best time in school history with a time of 24.09, while junior Anna Jefferson (Warren, Mich.) finished third in the 400m dash, running a time of 54.43.
“Raising the bar is what the ladies wanted to do this season,” director of track and field Bryan Fetzer said. “This was another step in that process. Establishing two school all-time bests on day one and gaining more consistency in overall performances is how that happens. We’re heading in the right direction. Each week it gets more exciting.”
Senior Jade Baker (North Richland Hills Texas) captured the fourth-best weight throw performance in UVA history, reaching 17.46m (57’3″) for sixth place in the event. Sophomore Eva Mustafic (Zagreb, Croatia) placed 11th in the weight throw with a mark of 16.11 (52’10”).
Junior Andrenette Knight (Morant Bay, Jamaica) and senior Alana Herran (Orange, N.J.) joined Jefferson in the 400m dash. Knight finished 11th with a time of 56.28, while Herran recorded a time of 58.61 to place 30th.
In the high jump, senior Carly Feyerabend (Mechanicsville, Va.) placed 10th, clearing a height of 1.65m (5’5″), while sophomore Gabrielle Hayes (Woodbridge, Va.) cleared a height of 1.60m (5’3″) for 13th place.
Freshman Zoe Rice (Ashburn, Va.) finished 17th in the triple jump with a mark of 11.49m (37’8.5″).
“We haven’t competed at the Armory in a while, and the support from parents and alumni was awesome,” Fetzer said. “It was great to see so many Hoos in the building.”
The Cavaliers will return to action on February 2, competing down the road at the Liberty Flames Invite in Lynchburg, Va.