Jones, Caldwell Highlight Final Day of Virginia Tech Invitational
Blacksburg, Va. – The Virginia men’s and women’s track and field teams concluded the final day of the Virginia Tech Invitational at the Rector Field House on Saturday (Jan. 18) with juniors Brittany Jones (Bloomfield, Conn.) and Khyasia Caldwell (Pocono, Summit, Pa.) capturing marks that rank on UVA’s all-time best list.
Jones opened the indoor season with a career-best mark in the shot put. With her final attempt of the day, Jones reached 52’4.75″ (15.97m) to tie for the third-best mark in school history and place third in the event.
Caldwell captured the 10th-best long jump mark in school history, reaching 19’11” (6.07m) with her opening jump at the meet. She placed second overall in the event.
“Great opening meet,” director of track & field and cross country/associate athletics director of administration Vin Lananna said. “It was nice to move from training to competing. I was particularly pleased with our vaulters and distance medley relay efforts. Individually, Anna Jefferson (300m run) and Brittany Jones (shot put) hit nice opening personal bests. I am looking forward to consistent improvement from our men and women over the next month.”
Additionally, the Cavaliers swept the distance medley relay as the women’s team of redshirt junior Olivia Sargent (Yardley, Pa.), sophomore Sydney Coppolino (Somerdale, N.J.), junior Madelin Rennyson (Lynchburg, Va.) and junior Kiera Bothwell (Springfield, Va.) ran a time of 11:43.99 and the men’s team of redshirt senior Matthew Novak (Glen Allen, Va.), junior Jordan Willis (Williamsburg, Va.), senior AJ Ernst (Marblehead, Mass.) and redshirt senior Ari Klau (West Hartford, Conn.) captured a time of 9:47.33.
The men’s long jump saw two Cavaliers finish inside the top-five as sophomore Ayende Watson (Baltimore, Md.) led Virginia with a third-place finish and a jump of 23’4″ (7.11m). Sophomore Owayne Owens (Montego Bay, Jamaica) placed fifth with a mark of 23’0″ (7.01m).
Senior Brenton Foster (Townsville, Australia) opened the season with a second-place finish in the high jump, recording a height of 7’0.5″ (2.15m). On the women’s side, sophomore Rebecca Hawkins (Sidcup, London) finished fifth in the high jump, while junior Gabrielle Hayes (Woodbridge, Va.) placed eighth as both athletes cleared 5’5.75″ (1.67m).
Redshirt senior Sam Young (Lewes, Del.) finished fourth in the pole vault. He cleared a height of 16’6.75″ (4.95m), while freshman Jada Seaman (Pikesville, Md.) joined Caldwell in the long jump, placing fifth in the event with a mark of 19’4.25″ (5.90m).
Virginia will return action with a trip back to Blacksburg on Friday (Jan. 24) to compete in the two-day Hokie Invitational.