Virginia Opens Competition at Penn Relays

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Cavaliers competed in a thrilling start to the Penn Relays as the men’s and women’s distance medley relay teams each finished fourth while Jada Seaman and Kayla Bonnick secured their spots in Saturday’s 100m finals at Penn’s Franklin Field.

Margot Appleton, Jada Seaman, Alahna Sabbakhan and Mia Barnett led off the day in the women’s distance medley relay. Competing against a strong field, Virginia climbed five places in the final two legs of the race. Barnett’s 4:35.33 anchor leg secured a fourth-place finish at 11:04.40 for the Cavaliers.

Ka’eo Kruse, Jordan Willis, Conor Murphy and Wes Porter represented the Hoos in the men’s distance medley relay. In a thrilling race, the Cavaliers saw impressive closing efforts from Kruse, Willis and Murphy to keep Porter within touching distance in the anchor leg. Down the final stretch the outcome of the race was teetering on a knife’s edge. The Hoos placed fourth with just over a second separating them from Ole Miss who claimed the title.

In the women’s 100m dash, Seaman and Bonnick each punched their tickets to the finals on Saturday. Bonnick claimed her spot by posting a personal-best time of 11:47 finishing third in her heat. Seaman took first in her heat to earn her place in the finals.

In the women’s high jump, Bex Hawkins placed third with a mark of 1.71m (5’7.25”).

FROM DIRECTOR OF TRACK & FIELD VIN LANANNA:

“We saw some great performances today up against incredibly strong competition. Jordan Willis ran an excellent 400-meter leg in the DMR today. Tomorrow will be another opportunity for us to compete in a highly-competitive atmosphere here at the Penn Relays as we continue to build towards our goals as a program.”

UP NEXT:

Virginia will resume competition at the Penn Relays tomorrow (April 30) with the women’s discus throw at 9:30 a.m. The Cavaliers will then return to Lannigan Field on Sunday (May 1) to host the Virginia Grand Prix.