CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia No.25 men’s and women’s track and field programs closed out an exhilarating weekend of competition at the 2025 Virginia Challenge at Lannigan Field on Saturday (April 19) as the program honored the achievement and dedication of 30 graduating seniors.
Success in the Sprints
- Maya Rollins won the women’s 100-meter hurdles in a wind-aided season best time of 13.29. Rollins already holds a spot on Virginia’s all-time freshman list in the event tied at No. 3 with her time of 13.73 from the Colonial Relays.
- Sophia Akpan and Elizabeth Imoh also recorded season best times in the women’s 100-meter hurdles coming through the line in wind-aided times of 13.84 (+4.0) and 14.08 (+4.0) respectively.
- Peter Djan ran his way to a new personal best of 13.91 (+1.6) in the men’s 110-meter hurdles to finish third. With his wind-legal time, Djan moves up to tie George Johnson (’82) at No.3 all-time in program history.
- Behind Djan, Jeremiah Wilson grabbed seventh place overall crossing the line in a season-best 14.12 (+1.4).
- Winning the 10th and final heat of the women’s 200-meter dash, Sarah Akpan turned in a wind-legal time of 23.75 (+1.7) to ultimately finish second overall.
- Lola Kolawole turned in a personal best of 24.40 (+1.8) to finish 16th in the competition.
- The women’s 4×100-meter relay team of Ariel Fletcher, Emily Alexandru, Tori Daniels and Brooke’Lyn Drakeford combined for a season-best 45.63 to finish runner-up in the event.
- The women’s 400-meters saw solid runs from Ariel Fletcher (55.08), Kaela Swift (57.19) and Tori Daniels (57.20, PB).
- The weekend concluded with top five finishes from both men’s and women’s 4×400-meter relays on the track. The women’s team of Ariel Fletcher, Emily Alexandru, Tori Daniels and Brooke’Lyn Drakeford finished fourth in 3:41.36 while Alex Sherman, Gage Gose, Jerlan Fish and Max Russo combined efforts to clock 3:11.27 for fifth place.
Cavaliers in the Field
- Estel Valeanu turned in another strong performance, this time in the women’s discus. Valeanu finished second, first among collegiate athletes, with a season best mark of 56.08m/184-0.
- Valeanu finished second to none other than Virginia alumni and school record holder in the event, Ashley Anumba. With her mark, Valeanu moves up to No.2 all-time in program history just behind her competitor, Anumba.
- Brock Schenck notched a personal best of 47.23m/154-11 in the men’s discus…