CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia No.24 men’s and women’s track and field programs closed out a full weekend of competition with the third and final home meet of the season, the Virginia High Performance at Lannigan Field on Sunday (April 27).
Strong Performances in the Distance Events
- The Cavaliers dominated the men’s and women’s 1500-meter races with seven athletes setting new personal bests.
- In the women’s race, Cate DeSousa finished atop the leaderboard in a new personal best of 4:19.50. Just behind DeSousa were Gillian Bushee (4:20.57, PB), Luci Ilnicki-Lambert (4:25.05, PB) and Jenny Schilling (4:25.72) finishing second through fourth.
- In the men’s race, Billy Atkinson finished runner-up in a new personal best time of 3:41.24. Atkinson finished just behind Virginia All-American Nate Mountain (3:41.03), who was running unattached.
- Also in the race, Jimmy Wischusen (3:43.53), Charles Perry (3:46.64) and Aidan Cox (3:53.18) all recorded personal best times.
- In the women’s 800-meters, Annie Jackson finished runner-up clocking 2:07.20. Jackson comes off of setting a season-best 2:06.45 as a member of Virginia’s distance medley relay (DMR) Championship winning relay at the 2025 Penn Relays.
- Led by Jackson, Ella Woehlcke finished third in a new personal best of 2:07.64. With her time, Woehlcke ranks fourth among freshmen in the event in program history.
- The men’s 800-meters saw four personal bests and one season best in a competitive field.
- Showing his range, Gary Martin led the way for the Cavaliers crossing the line in 1:48.08 for the win.
- Alex Leath recorded a top five finish clocking season-best 1:50.38 for fourth place.
- Those notching new personal bests in the men’s 800-meter race including Tobias L’Esperance (1:50.50, 5th), Myles Plummer (1:50.89, 6th), Alex Valencia (1:51.36, 7th) and James Ford (1:52.21, 9th).
GO HOOS!!!
Women’s 1500m…
1. Cate DeSousa 4:19.50 PB
2. Gillian Bushee 4:20.57 PB
3. Luci Ilnicki-Lambert 4:25.05 PB
4. Jenny Schilling 4:25.72#GoHoos pic.twitter.com/pxwlG7KqWv— Virginia Track & Field and Cross Country (@UVATFCC) April 27, 2025
Speed Through the Finish
- She was part of the Virginia DMR team that brought home a wheel at the 2025 Penn Relays, Ariel Fletcher returned to her home track to pick up the win in the women’s 400-meter dash just two days later. Fletcher clocked a new personal-best 54.19 to move up to No.7 in program history.
- Virginia swept the men’s and…