Profit Punches Ticket as Seeland and Akpan Qualify to Quarterfinals

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Virginia women’s track and field program kickstarted competition on the women’s opening day at the NCAA East Preliminary round on Thursday (May 23) as Janae Profit punched her ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the shot put while Esther Seeland and Sarah Akpan advanced to the quarterfinals at the UK Outdoor Track and Field Facility.

Profit Punches Ticket to Eugene
Janae Profit booked her ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Championships for the first time in her career after placing 12th overall in the shot put.

• Profit entered the East Preliminaries as the 43rd seed of the top-48 that qualify to the regional rounds.
• On her second throw of the competition, Profit threw a new personal-best 16.28m/53-5 to earn the 12th and final qualifying position.
• The junior bettered her finish from a year ago where she finished 26th overall with her mark of 15.61m/51-2.75.
• The last Cavalier to earn All-American status in the event was in 2022 when Maria Deaviz finished fourth with her mark of 17.97m.

Akpan Advances x2
Sarah Akpan advanced in both 100m and 200m dash on the first day of women’s competition.

• Akpan began her day earning an automatic qualification to the quarterfinals in the women’s 100m clocking a new personal-best 11.29.
• The Houston, Texas native improved upon her finish from last year’s regional meet where she finished 44th with her time of 11.64 (+2.1).
• Later in the afternoon, Akpan secured the third and final auto qualifying position in the first of six heats in the women’s 200m.
• The sophomore recorded a new personal-best for 200m crossing the line in 23.18 after entering the competition as the 36th seed.
• Akpan will look to earn the first NCAA Outdoor Championship bid of her career on Saturday.

Seeland to the Quarterfinals
Esther Seeland qualified for the quarterfinal of the women’s 1500m.

• Seeland clocked 4:22.93 to finish second in her heat to an earn an automatic qualifier to Saturday’s quarterfinals.
• The transfer out of Division III Messiah will look to make an NCAA Championship appearance in her second season competing at the Division I level.
• Seeland won an NCAA Division III title in the 1500…