Virginia Challenge Opener Features Impressive Performances
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia men’s and women’s track and field teams finished the opening day of competition at the Virginia Challenge on Thursday (April 20). The highly-competitive meet got off to a roaring start as reigning world champion and member of Team USA, Brooke Andersen, set the world’s leading mark in the hammer throw.
The women’s hammer throw was highlighted by a dazzling performance from Brooke Andersen competing for Nike. The reigning world champion threw a personal-best of 79.80 meters to shatter a Lannigan Field record set just one week ago by Jill Shippee at the Virginia Grand Prix (April 15). Andersen’s mark currently ranks as the world lead. For Virginia, Bree Lumpkin led the way for the Cavaliers throwing 55.52 meters (182’2”) followed by Jada Marsh who threw 53.82 meters (176’7”).
On the men’s side of the event, Virginia’s John Fay placed eighth overall with a throw that soared 61.66 meters (202’3”). Former Cavalier, Evangelos Fradelakis made a return to Lannigan Field as he placed fourth throwing 63.49 meters (208’3”).
Alix Still led off the women’s heptathlon with a personal-best mark in the 100-meter hurdles. Still took the win in the event running 13.68 seconds, a time that ranks fifth all-time at Virginia. The senior bookended her day with personal-best performances as she clocked 24.79 seconds in the 200-meter dash. Still ended the day in fifth place in the heptathlon standings with 3294 points. Three events remain in the competition with the long jump, javelin and 800-meters to be contested tomorrow (April 21).
Ethan Robinson, Luke Smith, Elby Omohundro and Henry Sullivan began their day in the decathlon. Robinson led the way early for the Cavaliers placing second in the 100 meters crossing the line in 10.73 seconds. However, it was Henry Sullivan that led the Cavaliers at the end of the day on the back of impressive performances in the shot put (12.56m/41’2.5”) and the 400 meters (51.88). Sullivan ended the day in fourth place overall with 3158 points. Robinson (2866) and Smith (2843) followed in fifth and sixth place respectively. The decathlon will resume tomorrow with the 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1500 meters.
Up Next:
The Virginia Challenge will resume tomorrow (April 21) with decathlon 110m hurdles at 10 a.m.. The meet will be live streamed Friday for a two-hour window from 7-9 p.m. on ACC Network Extra. ACC Network Extra is available through the ESPN app and at WatchESPN.com for customers who have the ACC Network as a part of their television subscription.