Appleton and Schilling Break Records on Day 2 of Raleigh Relays

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Virginia men’s and women’s track and field programs closed out an impressive day of competition at the 2024 Raleigh Relays where Margot Appleton broke the school record, meet record and facility record in the 5000m and Jenny Schilling broke the school record in the 10,000m at the Paul Derr Track & Field Facility Thursday (March 29).

Record Breaking Night

• Margot Appleton won the women’s 5000m finishing seven seconds ahead of the field crossing the line in 15:18.21. Appleton broke her own school record in the event which previously stood at 15:36.28.
• Not only did she break the school record, Appleton shattered the previous meet and facility record of 15:33.35 set in 2021 by Katie Wasserman of Notre Dame.
• Appleton continues her winning ways at the Raleigh Relays as the junior finished first in the 1500m (4:08.96) at this meet a year ago.
• In her first 10,000m race of the season, Jenny Schilling took down the 36-year-old school record crossing the line in 32.44.19. The previous record was held by Patty Matava at 32:58.64 from 1987. Schilling stuck with the leaders for the duration of the race and ultimately finished fifth overall (fourth collegiate) in the invitational section.

Dominance in Distance

• Esther Seeland (4:12.64) and Anna Workman (4:12.73) led the way for the Cavaliers in the women’s 1500m finishing in fifth and sixth place. Workman recorded a new personal-best eclipsing her pervious best of 4:14.65 by two seconds and become the fifth fastest Cavalier in the event in program history.
• Maggie Hock ran 4:23.62 for her fastest 1500m time dawning the Virginia singlet. Hock’s time in Raleigh equals her personal-best from the 2023 Penn Relays racing for Princeton.
• Freshman Tatum David recorded a personal-best time of 4:21.12 to finish 21st in a competitive field of 1500m runners. David ran nearly six seconds faster than her indoor best of 4:27.01.
• Setting her second personal-best in as many outdoor competitions, freshman Gillian Bushee ran 16.33.41 for 5000m.
• In the women’s 10,000m, Camryn Menninger recorded a top-20 finish crossing the line in 34:27.63.

Cavaliers Finish in the Top-5

• Jacob Lemmon won the men’s discus competition throwing for 55.33m/181-6. After fouling his third attempt, Lemmon threw the mark that would ultimately win the competition on his fourth throw.
• In the women’s discus throw, Janae Profit opened her outdoor season throwing for 49.48m/162-4 to finish fourth among the field.
• Sarah Akpan clocked 11.59 (+3.3) in the women’s 100m dash to finish fifth in the first heat of the competition.
• Heldi Valikaj finished runner-up in the men’s triple jump recording a mark of 15.22m/49-11.25 (+2.6) on his first jump of six.

Clearing the Bar

• Ethan Robinson kick started the day for the Cavaliers in the men’s pole vault clearing a new outdoor personal-best 4.65m/14-11. His mark was good for sixth place overall.
• Justin Rogers had a strong outing in men’s pole vault invitational section clearing 5.00m/16-4.75 to finish fourth. Rogers cleared five meters on his first attempt at the height before missing the bar at 5.10m/16-8.75, which would have been an outdoor best for the sophomore.
• In the women’s high jump, Carly Tarentino equaled her personal-best of 1.75m/5-8.75 to finish third overall, second among colligate athletes. Tarentino entered the competition clearing the first two heights with ease. Tarentino cleared 1.75m on her second attempt before knocking the bar down at 1.78m/5-10. She remains ranked tenth in Virginia history in the event.

Showing Speed in the Sprints

• Freshman Brook’Lyn Drakford recorded a personal-best in as many collegiate 100m hurdle races clocking a wind legal 12.48.
• In the men’s 400m, sophomore Jaden Lyons crossed the line in 48.61 to finish in the top-20 (16th) in the event.
• After bettering his best in the pole vault, Ethan Robinson finished in the top -15 in the men’s 110m hurdles with a time of 11.17 (+2.7).

Up Next
The Cavaliers are back in action tomorrow, Saturday (March 30) for the final day of competition at the 2024 Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, N.C. The competition will begin with the men’s hammer throw at 9:30 a.m. and conclude with the men’s 4x400m relay at 5:35 p.m.