Virginia Closes Competition at Home Opener, Anumba Places Third at Texas Relays
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia men’s and women’s track and field program wrapped up competition at the Virginia Quadrangular, its opening home meet of the season on Saturday (April 1) while Ashley Anumba punctuated a Cavalier showing at the Texas Relays with a third-place finish in the discus.
Anumba was the last of six Cavaliers to compete at the 95th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas. The graduate student placed third overall in the women’s discus as she posted a mark of 57.52 meters (188’8”). The mark was the second-farthest throw by collegiate competitors in the field.
The Cavalier sprinters and hurdlers had a strong showing at home as Virginia swept the 400-meter hurdles. Alex Sherman took the victory on the men’s side posting a time of 51.95 while Emily Alexandru took the victory for the women with her time of 59.96. In the 100 hurdles, Jada Pierre clocked 13.84 in a third-place finish.
In the men’s 100 meters, Jay Pendarvis logged a second-place finish as he posted a time of 10.37 while teammate Nigal Davis followed in third crossing the finish in 10.48 seconds. On the women’s side, Virginia went 1-2 as freshman Sarah Akpan led the way crossing in 11.34 seconds while Kayla Bonnick finished as runner-up clocking 11.36.
The Cavaliers went 1-2-3-4 in the women’s 200 meters. Freshman Sarah Akpan led the way posting 23.50 while Jada Pierre followed in second posting 23.72. Kayla Bonnick and Alahna Sabbakhan finished fourth and fifth respectively.
John Fay secured a victory in the men’s hammer throw as he posted a mark of 61.15 meters (200’7”). Jada Marsh placed second on the women’s side of the event posting 53.90 meters (176’10”).
Carly Tarentino opened her 2023 outdoor campaign with a win in the high jump. The sophomore leaped to a personal-best height of 1.73 meters (5’8”). On the men’s side of the event, Virginia decathlete Ethan Robinson placed second clearing a mark of 1.91 meters (6’3.25”)
Hanne Borstlap matched a personal-best in the pole vault as she won the event clearing 4.00 meters (13’1.5”). Maya Maloney and Trina Barcarola placed third and fourth respectively.
Heldi Valikaj won the men’s long jump competition with a mark of 7.37 meters (24’2.25”) while decathlete Luke Smith posted a personal-best mark of 6.52 meters (21’4.75”). Tara Zeni finished second in the long jump.
Home opener ✅#GoHoos⚔️ pic.twitter.com/GB9u5mYTaG
— Virginia Track & Field and Cross Country (@UVATFCC) April 1, 2023
Other Highlights at Texas Relays
- Owayne Owens opened his season in the triple jump with a fourth-place finish posting 16.53 meters (54’2.75″)
- Ethan Dabbs competed in the Javelin for the first time this season posting 74.87 meters (245’7”)
- Alix Still placed eighth in the heptathlon with a total of 5,491 points
- Still’s ranks second all-time at UVA – just 21 points from a long-standing UVA record set in 1994
- Still posted personal bests in the 100 hurdles, 200 meters and javelin
- Virginia freshman Sam Romano made her outdoor debut in the pole vault
- Jada Seaman opened her season in the long jump placing tenth at Texas Relays
From Director of Track & Field Vin Lananna:
“In today’s tough, windy conditions both teams did a great job of powering through and competing well at the Virginia Quadrangular which served as a great opener for some. We also saw some very positive showings at Texas Relays including an excellent personal-best performance from Alix Still. We look forward to the opportunity to host three more exciting competitions at the University of Virginia this season.”
Up Next:
Virginia will be back in action next weekend when the Cavaliers travel to Athens, Ga. to compete at the Spec Towns Invitational on Friday (April 7) and Saturday (April 8).
The Cavaliers will be back at Lannigan Field the following week to host the Virginia Grand Prix on Saturday (April 15).