Six Former Cavaliers Ready to Compete at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Six former Virginia Track and Field athletes secured their spot to compete at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France from July 25 through August 11.

Becoming an Olympic is the dream for many athletes for which five former Cavaliers have made a reality.  The following are set to represent their home countries at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games: Ashley Anumba (Nigeria), Halle Hazzard (Grenada), Andrenette Knight (Jamaica), Filip Mihaljevic (Croatia), Jordan Scott (Jamaica) and Bridget Williams (USA).

Anumba is set to represent Nigeria in the women’s discus throw in Paris later this summer. Her personal best in the event stands at 61.98m/203-4 set a year ago at the 2023 Nigerian Championships. Entering the Olympic Games, Anumba ranks 35th in the world in the women’s discus. Not only will Anumba make her Olympic Games debut, but she will also be part of history for Nigerian throwers.

“Representing Nigeria is an honor,” Anumba said. “For the first time ever, the country will be sending three women representatives for discus. History is being made and I can’t believe that I am a part of it.”

Anumba is no stranger to success at a high level as she set a high bar during her time in Charlottesville, Va. While at Virginia, Anumba was a two-time All-American and two-time All-ACC honoree. She finished runner-up in the discus throw at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships throwing for 61.13m/200-7 as well as runner-up at the ACC Outdoor Championships with her mark of 58.50m/191-11 in 2023. Success for Anumba was always earned and never expected to be given.

“I still haven’t processed this accomplishment in full yet as it has been a whirlwind these last few weeks,” said Anumba. “When I first started track and field 10 years ago, being an Olympian was never my goal, despite my high school coach telling me that it could happen. I just wanted to see what my abilities were and how far they could take me. Now I’m going to the Olympics and yet I still don’t believe I’ve reached my fullest potential in throwing despite being one of the best in the world.”

She continues to dominate the ring among the post collegiate ranks as well as in the classroom as she is currently pursuing a law degree from Virginia.

Also set to make her Olympic Games debut in the field is Williams, formerly Guy, representing the USA. Williams recently won the pole vault competition at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. The Greenburg, Pa. native cleared 4.73m/15-6.25 on her first attempt to secure the win. Williams was the only competitor in the field to record a first attempt clearance at five separate heights beginning with her opening bar clearance of 4.43m/14-6.25. Williams currently ranks 11^th in the world with a personal-best of 4.83m/15-10 from February of this year.

“Being a first time Olympian is a huge honor that I will never take for granted,” Williams said. “The United States consistently boats the top athletes in the world, and I am grateful I get to be a part of this year’s team.”

While at Virginia, Williams was a three-time All-American, six-time All-ACC and two-time ACC Champion in the women’s pole vault. She recorded back-to-back ACC Championship victories in the outdoor pole vault in 2018 and 2019. In the same years, Williams set both the indoor and outdoor Virginia school record in the event for which she still holds to this day. Her outdoor program record stands at 4.46m/14-7.5 while her indoor record stands at 4.41m/14-5.5.

On the track, Hazzard will represent Grenada in the short sprints at the Olympic Games. Hazzard is set to make her Olympic Games debut in the women’s 100m dash. She owns a personal best of 11.29 for 100 meters which she ran in May of this year, putting her in prime position to compete on the worlds biggest stage.

“Being an Olympian means going after what you want and not stopping until you get it,” Hazzard said. “It’s about overcoming adversity and showcasing your spirit and resilience on the world’s greatest stage.”

During her time at Virginia, Hazzard was a two-time All-American and three-time All-ACC honoree. Hazzard owns the Virginia school record in the 100 meters at 11.20 set back in 2019. She also ranks ninth all-time in program history in the 200 meters with her time of 23.68 and was a member of the Virginia women’s 4x100m relay that ranks second in program history with their time of 43.75.

On the men’s side, two former Cavaliers in Scott and Mihaljevic are set to take on the field in the men’s triple jump and men’s shot put.

The Virginia record holder in the outdoor long jump and triple jump, Scott will represent Jamaica in the triple jump in Paris. While this is not the first time Scott will dawn the Jamaica singlet, he is grateful for another opportunity to represent his home country on the biggest stage.

“It is no secret that the Olympics is considered to be the holy grail of sporting events so of course I had dreams and aspirations of one day competing on that level,” Scott said. “Coming from Jamaica, with such a rich history in the sport I’ve grown to see how much these athletes were admired and cherished by my country and it is still surreal that I’ve finally achieved this goal and am receiving the same level of admiration as the individuals I once looked up to.”

While at Virginia, Scott was a seven-time All-American and 11-time All-ACC honoree. Scott was a five-time ACC Champion between the long jump (1) and triple jump (4) and brought home the NCAA Championship title in the triple jump in 2019. Entering the Olympic Games, the Jamaican native ranks just inside the top-20 in the world at 19^th with his season best mark of 17.02m/55-10.25 from the 2024 Clyde Littlefield Relays. His personal best in the triple jump remains his mark from 2019 when he leapt out 17.08m/56-0.25.

A force in the ring, Mihaljevic is set to represent Croatia in the men’s shot put. Mihaljevic recently finished runner-up in the shot put at the European National Championships with his mark of 21.20m/69-6.75 before winning the Croatian National Championships throwing for 20.64m/67-8.75. He is currently ranked seventh in the world with his season best mark of 21.71m/71-2.75. Mihaljevic owns a personal best and Croatia National Record of 21.94m/71-11.75 from 2021.

“To be an Olympian is a dream to me,” said Mihaljevic. “As a kid, I used to dream about competing at the biggest stage and to live that dream is something spectacular. When you put the national kit on, your heart beats stronger than ever because you represent not only yourself and your family, but your whole nation.”

During his time at Virginia, Mihaljevic won three NCAA titles between the shot put (2) and discus (1) events as well as 10 ACC Championship titles in shot put (6) and discus (4). He was a 10-time All-American and 12-time All-ACC honoree. Mihaljevic holds the indoor and outdoor shot put school record with his mark of 21.30m/69-10.75 (O) and 20.87m/68-5.75 (I) as well as ranking second all-time in the discus with his mark of 63.76m/209-2. Furthermore, he holds the freshman record in the outdoor shot put at 19.56m/64-2.25 and indoor shot put with his mark of 19.63m/64-5 while ranking second all-time in the discus at 60.41m/198-2.

Selected to the mixed relay for Jamaica is Andrenette Knight. The Morant Bay native recently finished fourth in the 400 meter hurdles (54.37) and sixth in the 400 meters (51.23) at the Jamaican National Championships. Knight ranks seventh in the world in the 400 meter hurdle event. She owns a personal best of 53.26 over hurdles from 2023 and set a new personal best for the flat 400 meters at the National Championships less than one month ago.

“Growing up it was always my dream to represent at the highest level (Olympics),” Knight said. “Being an Olympian helps me to realize my potential as an athlete. There are no limits, as long as we believe and keep dreaming. I’ve kept that dream alive ever since I was a child and here I am today living it. I am an Olympian! Being able to represent my country at this level gives me the opportunity to be an inspiration the up and coming generation and that is something I strive to do in my career as an athlete.”

While at Virginia, Knight was a three-time All-American and seven-time All-ACC honoree. Furthermore, Knight won the 400 meter hurdles ACC Championship title in subsequent years in 2019 and 2021 (Season was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19). In her final season as a Cavalier, she brought home bronze at the NCAA Outdoor Championships alongside her ACC gold in the 400m hurdles. Knight still holds the program record over hurdles at 55.75 and was a member of the school record setting 4x400m relay team, both from 2021.

The track and field portion of the Summer Olympic Games will take place from Friday, August 2^nd through Friday, August 9^th. The schedule of events is as follows.

Schedule of Events…

Friday, August 2
4:45 a.m. | Women’s 100m Preliminary Round (Halle Hazzard)
5:50 a.m. | Women’s 100m Round 1
12:55 p.m. | Women’s Discus Throw Qualification (Ashley Anumba)
2:10 p.m. | Men’s Shot Put Qualification (Filip Mihaljevic)

Saturday, August 3
1:35 p.m. | Men’s Shot Put Final
1:50 p.m. | Women’s 100m Semifinal
3:30 p.m. | Women’s 100m Final

Monday August, 5
4:40 a.m. | Women’s Pole Vault Qualification (Bridget Williams)
2:30 p.m. | Women’s Discus Throw Final

Wednesday, August 7
1:00 p.m. | Women’s Pole Vault Final
1:15 p.m. | Men’s Triple Jump Qualification (Jordan Scott)

Friday, August 9
2:10 p.m. | Men’s Triple Jump Final

Pending Qualification

List of Former Cavalier Qualifiers….