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Owens Leads Three Cavaliers to All-American Finishes at NCAA Indoor Championships

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Three Cavaliers closed out competition at the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships as Margot Appleton and Conor Murphy each earned All-American status in the men’s and women’s mile while Owayne Owens finished third in the triple jump at the Albuquerque Convention Center on Saturday night.

Virginia’s veteran jumper, Owayne Owens turned in his best-ever finish at an NCAA Championship meet. Competing as the sixth seed in the men’s triple jump, Owens turned in a personal-best performance clearing 16.69 meters (54’9.25”) on his last attempt of the competition to win the bronze in the event.

The mark moves Owens into sole possession of second on the Virginia all-time performance list trailing Jordan Scott’s mark of 17.02 meters (55’10.25”). Owens’ third-place finish is the second highest by a Cavalier in the men’s triple jump trailing only Scott who won the title in 2019.

The performance comes three seasons after Owens was set to compete in his first-ever NCAA Championship meet when the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic at the very same venue in 2020.

Margot Appleton began the final day of the Championships with an excellent performance in the women’s mile as she took a took fourth place posting 4:35.83 to earn first-team All-American honors. Appleton’s prowess as a racer was on full display throughout her entire campaign at the NCAA Championships. Her seed time of 4:33.82 was the slowest in the field as she entered as the 16th and final seed.

After bolting from seventh into fourth place in the first heat of the qualifying rounds to secure qualification for the finals, Appleton once again began her race at the back of the pack. Appleton ran a methodical race from start to finish running down competitor after competitor to finish fourth. She becomes the second-ever Virginia women’s miler to place in the top-four at the NCAA Championships. She also earns first-team All-American honors for the second consecutive season after finishing seventh as a member of Virginia’s DMR team in 2022.

In the men’s mile, Conor Murphy earned first team All-American honors as well after a sixth-place finish in the event. Murphy entered as the 10th seed in the event with his season-best time of 3:55.24. Murphy ran a strategic race in the prelims establishing himself among the leaders to secure automatic qualification. In the finals, Murphy found himself at the end of the pack. However, with an impressive surge to the finish the junior finished sixth to achieve All-American status for the first time in his career.

Owens and Murphy combined for nine points for the Virginia men who placed 28th overall. Appleton scored five for the Cavalier women who placed 31st.

From Director of Track & Field Vin Lananna:
“Today was a huge day for the Virginia track and field program. Owayne Owens, Margot Appleton and Conor Murphy were all superb today and made us incredibly proud. It was an excellent way to wrap up the indoor campaign. Our focus is onward.”

Up Next:
The Cavaliers press on to the outdoor season which is set to begin in Raleigh, North Carolina as UVA travels to compete at NC State’s Raleigh Relays from Thursday, March 23 through Saturday, March 25.

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