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Appleton Sets Mile Record, Cavaliers Shine at Penn State

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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — The Virginia men’s and women’s track and field teams wrapped up competition on the first of two competition days at the Penn State National Open on Friday (Jan. 26) at the Horace Ashenfelter III Track. The Cavalier milers put on a show as Margot Appleton took down a school record and three Cavalier men went under four minutes in the same race.

Appleton Sets UVA Mile Record

  • In their first mile competition of the season, Margot Appleton and Anna Workman put on a show in the first heat. Appleton took second place with a blazing 4:30.87 followed by Anna Workman, who ran 4:31.91, in third.
  • A 2023 All-American in the event, Appleton’s time ranks as the fastest women’s mile in UVA history and ranks fourth in the NCAA this season. Workman also came in under the previous Virginia record to rank No. 2 on the all-time list.
  • Running in the same heat, Caroline Timm made her UVA debut in the event running 4:36.24, a time that ranks ninth in UVA history.
  • Freshman Cate DeSousa won her heat with a time of 4:47.92, her time stands as the fourth fastest among Cavalier freshmen in program history.

Men’s Milers Bring the Heat

  • On the men’s side of the event, three Cavaliers went under four minutes in the mile as Yasin Sado placed third running 3:55.93 followed by Wes Porter (3:58.57) in fifth and James Donnahue (3:58.83) in seventh.
  • Sado’s time ranks as the second-fastest in UVA history missing Conor Murphy’s school record time of 3:55.24 by less than a second. Sado’s time currently ranks in the NCAA’s top-10 this season.
  • The team performance marks the second consecutive season in which Virginia had three runners go under the four-minute barrier on the same day. For the third year running, Virginia has had at least two runners go below four minutes at the same competition.
  • Running in heat four, Justin Wachtel took home a victory running 4:05.20. Scott Sikorski and Cayden Dyer both made their Virginia debuts in the event running 4:06.88 and 4:13.91 respectively.

Virginia Sweeps the Weight Throw

  • After an impressive start to her 2024 campaign, Bree Lumpkin took a victory in the weight throw marking a personal-best of 18.32 meters (60’ 1.25”) throwing over the 60-foot mark for the first time in her career.
  • Lumpkin’s mark moves her into third on the Virginia all-time performance list after cracking the top-10 in her first competition of the season when she threw a then-best 17.45 meters (57’ 3”).
  • John Fay took the victory on the men’s side launching a throw that reached 21.61 meters (70’10.75”) surpassing both the 21-meter and 70-foot marks for the first time in his career.
  • With Fay’s performance, he jumps Hilmar Jonsson to move into the top-three on the Virginia all-time list in the event.
  • Jacob Lemmon completed a Virginia sweep of the event with a season-best toss of 21.45 meters (70’ 4.5”)

Murphy Goes 1:46 in the 800 Meters

  • In his second race of the season, and his first 800, Conor Murphy finished second while dropping a personal-best time of 1:46.95.
  • A 2023 Outdoor All-American in the event, Murphy becomes the second Cavalier to run under 1:47 in the 800 meters and trails only Paul Ereng (1:44.84) on the UVA all-time performance list.
  • On the women’s side of the event, Maggie Hock placed fifth clocking a time of 2:07.36. She was followed by Alahna Sabbakhan running 2:08.62

Djan Wins 60 Hurdles, Bonnick Runner-Up in 60 Dash

  • Cavalier hurdlers Peter Djan and Jeremiah Wilson kickstarted their competition by advancing in the 60 hurdles into the semifinals and eventually the finals.
  • Djan only improved as the day went on, bettering his time in each round of the event. He saved his best for last placing first in the finals with a personal-best time of 7.80, a time that ranks third all-time at UVA.
  • Wilson placed fifth in the finals clocking 8.11. His best time of the day came in the semifinal round where he ran 8.06.
  • In the short sprints, Kayla Bonnick impressed with a runner-up finish in the 60-meter dash. Bonnick saved her best for last as well clocking 7.45 in the finals.
  • Sarah Akpan advanced to the 60-meter finals as well placing seventh. Akpan’s best time of the night came in the semifinals where she posted 7.58.

Up Next
The Cavaliers will resume competition at the Penn State National Open tomorrow (Jan. 27) beginning with the women’s 400 meters at 10:20 a.m.

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