Hoos Continue to Improve on Marks in Impressive Virginia Invitational Showing

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Cavalier men’s and women’s track and field teams showed no signs of letting up on the impressive start they have had to the 2021 outdoor season by improving on numerous season bests and setting several school records Saturday at the Virginia Invitational.

The UVA Women
A week after posting the best 4×100 relay finish in school history, the Cavaliers improved on the time Saturday. Led by freshman Kayla Bonnick (St. Catherine, Jamaica) in the leadoff leg and senior Anna Jefferson (Warren, Mich.) anchoring the team, the Cavaliers placed second with a time of 44.36. Junior Halle Hazzard (Commack, N.Y.) and freshman Jada Seaman (Pikesville, Md.) ran the second and third legs, respectively.

That was just the start of some impressive performances by those individuals.

Within an hour the Cavaliers swept the top three spots in the women’s 100-meter dash with Hazzard winning with a time of 11.44 while Seaman was second (11.56) and Bonnick took third place (11.76). Seaman’s time put her in fifth place on the UVA all-time performance list and broke the freshman record Bonnick had set earlier this season.

Seaman capped off her day by finishing third in the long jump with a personal best mark of 6.13 meters (20’ 1.5”).

In the throws’ arena, the Cavaliers were once again dominant.

Freshman Maria Deaviz (Souderton, Pa.) made it three-for-three this year, winning the shot put with a best effort of 15.71m (51’ 6.5”) while junior Brittany Jones (Bloomfield, Conn.) was second with season-best put of 14.90 (48’ 10.5”). Junior Thelma Kristjánsdóttir took top honors in the discus with person-best throw of 52.99m (173’ 10”) that ranks fourth on UVA’s all-time performance list. Sophomore Sadey Rodriguez (Laredo, Texas) took second place at 47.75 meters (156’ 8”).

On the track the Cavaliers picked up the win in the 3000-meter steeplechase when sophomore Helena Lindsay (Yokohama, Japan) crossed the finish line first with a time of 10:25.50 that ranks ninth on the UVA performance list. Freshman Ellie Desmon (Ashburn, Va.) used a personal best time of 4:28.28 to win the 1500 meters.

The Cavalier Men
The Cavalier men’s team had just as impressive of performances.

Senior Joey Kelly (Pittsburgh, Pa.) cleared a personal-best height of 5.05 meters (16’ 6.75”) to win that event and take over fifth place on UVA’s all-time performance list. Teammate sophomore Kane Aldrich (Naples, Fla.) finished second with a personal-best height of 4.80 meters (15’ 9”).

Senior Randy Neish (Glastonbury, Conn.) used a personal-best time of 3:48.88 to edge teammate freshman Will Baginski (Ridgewood, N.J.) (3:49.66) for the 1500 meter title.

Like his counterpart on the women’s team, first-year Claudio Romero (Santiago, Chile) won the shot put (18.02m / 59’ 1.5”) and then placed second in a spirited discus competition. His personal best toss of 62.56 meters (205’ 3”) moved him up to second all-time at UVA and improved on the freshman record he set earlier this season.

Fellow first-year Jacob Lemmon (Sanibel, Fla.) was third in the discus, also hitting for a personal best mark. He threw 58.54 meters (192’ 1”) to take over fifth place all-time at UVA and move up to third on the freshman records list. The only competitor to beat the two young Hoos was former Cavalier All-American Jordan Young. Competing unattached, he threw 64.84 meters in his quest to make the Canadian Summer Olympic team.

UVA’s standout triple jumper sophomore Owayne Owens (Montego Bay, Jamaica) etched his named on the Cavalier all-time list in the long jump. His best effort of 7.48 meters (24’ 6.5”) took second place and was the fourth best performance ever by a Cavalier. Senior Brenton Foster (Townsville, Australia) took time off from competing in his main event – the high jump – to finish third at 7.38 meters (24’ 2.5”).

Other Notable Performances

• Jefferson placed third in the 200m (23.99)
• Freshman Abby Comella (Wellesley, Mass.) had a personal best time of 56.44 in the 400m
• Junior Sydney Coppolino (Somerdale, N.J.) ran a personal best 2:07.94 to finish second in the 800m
  • Senior Andrenette Knight (Morant Bay, Jamaica) had a personal best time of 13.55 to place third in the 100mH
• Junior Rebecca Hawkins (Sidcup, London) was second in the high jump (1.71m / 5’ 7.25”), losing a jump-off for first place after a tie ended the competition.
• Sophomore Maya Maloney (Boise, Idaho) placed third in the pole vault (3.81m / 12’ 6”)
• Senior Jordan Willis (Williamsburg, Va.) was third in the 200m (21.47)

Vin Lananna, Director of Track and Field and Cross Country

“Today’s weather conditions and the competition from our ACC colleagues were ideal for outstanding performances. Our student-athletes delivered in all event areas. We are well positioned to be in the hunt when we get to the championship season.”

Up Next
The Cavaliers have next weekend off before returning to the oval to host the Virginia Challenge on April 16 and 17 at Lannigan Field.