Cavaliers Post Strong Opening Day at Virginia Tech Invitational

BLACKSBURG, Va. — The Virginia men’s and women’s track and field teams completed the first of two competition days at the Virginia Tech Invitational on Friday (Jan. 12) at Rector Field House. The Cavaliers totaled three event wins while Peter Djan and Bree Lumpkin put their names on the Virginia all-time lists.

Djan Posts Impressive Victory

• In his second competition of the young season, Virginia sophomore Peter Djan opened with a time of 8.08 seconds to book his place in the finals with the second-fastest qualifying time.
• In the finals, Djan blazed to a personal-best time of 7.85 to take the victory while posting the third-fastest time in UVA history.
• David Frasier topped his heat with a time of 8.17 to book his place in the finals. Frasier went on to place fifth overall in the finals while running a personal-best time of 8.06.

Lumpkin Off to a Hot Start

• In her second season as a Cavalier, Bree Lumpkin opened her season with an impressive performance placing fifth in the weight throw while marking the fifth best throw in UVA history of 17.45 meters (57’ 3”).
• Lumpkin soared past her personal best on her first attempt of the competition and did not stop there, topping her previous best on consecutive attempts.
• Lumpkin becomes the seventh Cavalier to surpass 17 meters in the event.

Valikaj Wins Long Jump

• Virginia’s Heldi Valikaj opened his season with a victory in the long jump. The junior marked a personal-best of 7.29 meters (23’ 11”) on his second attempt of the competition which would be enough to secure the victory.
• Cavalier heptathlete Ethan Robinson leaped surpassed his personal-best with a mark of 6.77 meters (22’ 2.5”) on his second attempt of the day. He would go on to improve his best to 7.14 meters (23’ 5.25”) and place fourth overall in the event.

Bonnick Leads the Way in 60m Dash

• Virginia’s Kayla Bonnick took third in her heat of the women’s 60-meter dash with a time of 7.54 to book a place in the finals before going on to place third overall clocking 7.51 seconds.
• Sophomore Sarah Akpan placed second in her heat with a time of 7.62 to advance to the finals as well. Akpan went on to place seventh in the event.
• Freshman Ariel Fletcher made her Virginia debut in the event placing second in her heat, but just missing out on qualification to the finals.

Cavaliers Go 1-2 in 500 Meters

• Alahna Sabbakhan kicked off 2024 with a victory in the 500 meters posting a time of 1:13.83
• Keara Seasholtz completed a UVA sweep of the event by placing second crossing the finish line in 1:14.83

Hardy Opens 2024 Season

• Virginia’s Jordan Hardy opened the 2024 campaign in the long jump placing fourth in the competition with a mark of 6.01 meters (19’ 8.75”).
• Freshman Mahkaia Lee made her debut as a Cavalier in the event marking a ninth-place finish in the event.

Up Next:

The Cavaliers will be back in action at the Virginia Tech Invitational tomorrow (Jan. 13) when competition opens with the women’s pole vault invitational at 11 a.m.