This weekend, Virginia celebrated both its seniors and broader figures in the local running community at the Virginia Challenge here in Charlottesville. For one of the last home meets of the season the Cavaliers showed up in full force, breaking a number of personal records highlighted by graduate student Nathan Mountain breaking the school record in the 3000-meter steeplechase. Mountain also took down the meet and facility record and now holds the second-fastest time for this season in the NCAA.
The meet showed a possible strength for steeplechase in the championship season and demonstrated continued progression in results for the rest of the team.
Friday night was named the Mark and Cynthia Lorenzoni Distance Night — after the co-founders of the Ragged Mountain Running and Walking Shop who remain very influential in the Charlottesville running world.
“When I think about volunteerism and commitment to the community,” Coach Vin Lananna said. “It would be difficult to imagine any family doing more than Mark and Cynthia Lorenzoni.”
Saturday, all 22 of the seniors and graduates on the team were recognized, who walked with their family down the track in a post-meet ceremony. The seniors were each given flowers and a poster of them competing for Virginia.
A special acknowledgement was given to senior Gary Martin with the “Gary Martin Award for Excellence.” The inaugural, endowed award acknowledges Martin’s commitment and achievement for Virginia.
Outside of the distinctions, the Cavaliers were ready to compete on their home track and gain some glory there, too.
The highlight of the meet was the 3000-meter steeplechase where Mountain ran 8:11.92, smashing the Virginia record and his own personal record.
Graduate student Brett Gardner also ran the steeplechase and finished behind Mountain in second with a time of 8:31.14.
Outside of Mountain, there were a number of personal records and top 10 Virginia program finishes.
Junior Tatum David ran the women’s 1500-meter invite, placing second in 4:06.51 and claiming the No. 3 Virginia time behind only recent alumna Margot Appleton and Michaela Meyer. In the women’s 5,000 meters, junior Gillian Bushée ran 15:56.07 — a personal best that moved her to No. 4 on the Virginia all-time list.
Graduate student Janae Profit now holds the fifth-best program finish in women’s shot put for her throw of 15.80 meters, putting her in fourth for the event, while graduate student Brooke Lumpkin threw 15.77 meters and placed fifth.
Freshman Charlotta Sandkulla placed third overall in the women’s hammer throw invite with her throw of 66.81. Sandkulla recently set a school record a few weekends ago at the Duke Invitational where she threw 67.31 meters.
Back on the track, junior Ariel Fletcher nabbed the sixth-fastest time for a Virginia woman in the 400-meter, finishing in fourth in the event with a time of 53.76 seconds, while sophomore Maya Rollins rolled into first in the women’s 100-meter hurdles in 13.47 seconds for a season-best time. Also in the 100-meter hurdles, freshman Ava Rice placed fifth in 13.83 seconds.
Virginia also did well in the 400-meter hurdles. Junior Brooke’Lyn Drakeford ran her way into third with a personal best of 59.89 seconds, and freshman Anders Felts took fifth in the men’s event in 52.13 seconds.
Martin placed first in the men’s 5K, running 13:25.42. It was a tougher race for Martin whose personal record for outdoor is set at 13:16.82. Senior Richard Moreno also won his event — the 10K — in 29:39.59.
This meet showed consistent improvement across both the distance and the thrower contingents, and proved that they will be a strength for Virginia as the team heads into the championship season. It also provided an important moment to reflect back on Charlottesville’s running community both inside and outside the team.
Up next, the team will head to Philadelphia, Pa., for Penn Relays April 23 through April 25 and then close out their home meets the next weekend.
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