Cavaliers Start Strong at 2026 Raleigh RelaysCavaliers Start Strong at 2026 Raleigh Relays
Grace Landini/Virginia Athletics

Cavaliers Start Strong at 2026 Raleigh Relays

The Virginia Track & Field team began competition at the 2026 Raleigh Relays at Paul Derr Track & Field facility in Raleigh, N.C. on Thursday (March 26)

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Virginia men’s and women’s track and field program began competition at the 2026 Raleigh Relays at Paul Derr Track & Field facility on Thursday (March 26) as a trio of Cavaliers notched program top 10 marks including Christiana Ellina, Brett Gardner and Jayden McKeen. 
 
From the Field…
  • Christiana Ellina won the women's javelin throwing a new personal best of 54.41m/178-6. With her second-round throw, Ellina moves up to No. 2 all-time in program history.
  • Abigail Meckes also turned in a new personal best and top 10 finish throwing for 44.48m/145-11 (10th), also on her second around attempt.
  • A trio of Cavaliers placed in the top 10 finishers including Brooke Lumpkin, Janae Profit and Suzie Kennelly. Lumpkin threw for 15.82m/51-11 to finish third, just ahead of Profit with a season best of 15.77m/51-9 in fourth place. Kennelly finished sixth with her mark of 14.72m/48-3.50.
  • In the men's javelin, Jayden McKeen rounded out the top five finishers with his sixth-round throw of 64.06m/210-2. His mark ranks No. 7 all-time in program history. 
 
Going the Distance…
  • Will Daley finished runner-up in the men's 5000-meters clocking 13:36.80.
  • Nathan Mountain also recorded a top 10 finish in the men's 5000-meters with his time of 13:40.60 (8th).
  • In his outdoor season opener, Brett Gardner clocked 13:41.99 to finish 11th overall and become No. 8 all-time in program history. 
  • Billy Atkinson led the way for the Cavaliers in the men's 1500-meters with a 10th place finish. Atkinson crossed the line in 3:41.40 to finish second in his heat and 10th overall. 
  • Freshman Henry Acorn crossed the line in 3:42.71 to finish 19th in the men's 1500-meters. 
  • Also, in the 1500-meters, Cayden Dyer (3:47.90) turned in a season-best performance while Myles Plummer (3:48.37) clocked a new personal best. 
 
Up Next
The Virginia men's and women's track and field teams continue competition at the 2026 Raleigh Relays at Paul Derr Track & Field facility on Friday, March 27. Competition for the Cavaliers is set to being at 10 a.m. with Suzie Kennelly and Janae Profit in the women's discus.