EUGENE, Ore. – The Virginia women’s track and field team finished competition at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Saturday (June 8) as Margot Appleton came away with a fourth-place finish and First Team All-American honors in the 5000-meter run.
Margot Appleton Returns to Podium
In the 5000-meters, Margot Appleton put together an stellar performance competing in a loaded field of runners. The ACC bronze medalist ran in the middle of the pack until the field began to string out. Appleton stuck with the second group of runners to ultimately cross the line in 15:24.24 for fourth place overall.
- After earning All-American honors in the 1500m with her third place finish at this meet a year ago, Appleton continues to display her range finishing top-five in the 5000m this season in Eugene.
- She is the first to record All-American honors in the event since Patricia Matara accomplished the feat in 1988.
- The junior concludes another impressive season with her second consecutive outdoor First Team All-American honors.
Brining home the hardware 😁#GoHoos pic.twitter.com/caVo2zwfdc
— Virginia Track & Field and Cross Country (@UVATFCC) June 9, 2024
Celia Rifaterra Setting the Bar
In her NCAA Outdoor Championship debut, Celia Rifaterra cleared 1.77m/5-9.75 to finish 18th in the high jump and earn All-American Honorable Mention honors.
- The sophomore is the first Cavalier to earn honors at the NCAA meet in the high jump since Sherry Gauld in 1993.
- Rifaterra kickstarted the competition clearing the opening height of 1.72m/5-7.75 on her first attempt before clearing 1.77m/5-9.75 on her second attempt at the height.
- Rifaterra entered the competition with an outdoor personal-best of 1.81m/5-11.25 and just narrowly missed out on clearing a new personal-best height at 1.82m/5-11.50.
Wednesday/Friday Recap
- Shane Cohen put on a show to win the NCAA 800m title in new personal-best 1:44.97. Cohen became the third individual in Virginia history to achieve the feat and joins the company of legendary Cavaliers Paul Ereng (1988, 1989) and Robby Andrews (2011).
- Nate Mountain finished runner-up in the 3000m steeplechase with his time of 8:25.71. The junior improved upon his fourth place finish from a year ago.
- Following Mountain, Yasin Sado finished seventh in the 3000m steeplechase with his time of 8:28.17 to earn First Team All-American honors.
- The dynamic steeplechase duo tallied 10 of the teams total 26 points.
- In his NCAA Outdoor…