Wake Forest Heads to Virginia Challenge

4/15/2021 4:24:00 PM | Track and Field

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Wake Forest track & field program will hit the road this weekend at the Virginia Challenge. Competitors from more than 50 schools will take part in the competition Friday (April 16) and Saturday (April 17) at Lannigan Field.

Events get underway at 11 a.m. on Friday and at 10 a.m. Saturday. A total of 33 Demon Deacons are prepared to compete in 20 different events throughout the two days of action. The Virginia Challenge is the second meet hosted by the University of Virginia.

Recently, Wake Forest set a new school record, posted 23 top-10 performances and nine first place finishes at the Tobacco Road Challenge last week at Duke. The Deacs school record was set by junior Zach Facioni. The Sydney, Australia native beat his previous school record by nearly three seconds with a 3:39.87 1500m run, placing him third in the event and 14th nationally.

SQUAD UP
The men's 1500m event group of Zach Facioni, Aaron Las Heras, Joaquin Martinez and Ben Hill have earned the rank of No. 7 in the country with their average time of 3:43.11.

Wake Forest's men's discus event group of Thomas Kitchell, Andrew White, Connor Mathis and Mason Ellis reached a ranking of No. 10 in the nation with an average of 51.34m (168-5).

ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES
Due to health and safety considerations, in addition to the current guidelines for sports venues set by the Commonwealth of Virginia, attendance for UVA home meets is limited to the family of student-athletes and coaching staff until further notice.

Complete schedule of events and meet information for the week is below.

VIRGINIA CHALLENGE

Participating School
- Event Schedule
Venue: Lannigan Field

Friday, April 16:

Field Events:
- 1:00 p.m. – Women's Pole Vault
  - Elaina Roeder
- 1:30 p.m. -- Women's Javelin
  - Rachel Kern
  - Alexandra Roberts
- 2:30 p.m. – Women's Long Jump
  - Robbie Grace
- 4:00 p.m. -- Women's Discus
  - Chanel Dawson
  - Janese Lynch
- 6:30 p.m. -- Men Hammer
  - Mason Ellis
  - Jake Goldberg
  - Thomas Kitchell
  - Andrew White
  - Michael Yow
- 8:30 p.m. -- Men Javelin
  - Elijah Shalaway
Running Events:
- 3:20 p.m. -- Women's 1500m (Slower Sections)
- 5:25 p.m. -- Men's 5,000m (Slower Sections)
- 5:50 p.m. -- Women's 5,000m (Section 1)
- 6:40 p.m. – Men's 3000m Steeplechase
  - Carter Coughlin
  - Ben Hill
- 7:10 p.m. – Women's 1500m (Top 3 Sections)
- 7:30 p.m. – Men's 1500m (Top 3 Sections)
- 7:50 p.m. – Women's 5000m (Section 2)
- 8:10 p.m. – Women's 5000m (Section 3)
- 8:30 p.m. – Men's 5000m (Section 2)
- 8:45 p.m. – Men's 5000m (Section 3)
- 10:15 p.m. – Men's 10,000m
Decathlon (Day 1):
- 12:00 p.m. -- Men's 100m
  - Mark Smith
- 12:45 p.m. -- Men's Long Jump
  - Mark Smith
- 2:15 p.m. -- Men's Shot Put
  - Mark Smith
- 4:00 p.m. -- Men's High Jump
  - Mark Smith
- 5:30 p.m. -- Men's 400m
  - Mark Smith

Saturday, April 17:

Field Events:
- 1 p.m. -- Women's High Jump
  - Cassie Martin
- 1:15 p.m. -- Women's Discus
  - Chanel Dawson
  - Janese Lynch
- 3:00 p.m. -- Men's Shot Put
- 3:30 p.m. -- Women's Shot Put
  - Chanel Dawson
  - Janese Lynch
Running Events:
- 3:00 p.m. -- Women's 800m
  - Aleeya Hutchins
  - Anna Rybezynski
- 3:25 p.m. -- Men's 800m
  - Kenton Bachmann
  - Archie Wallis
Decathlon (Day 2):
- 10:00 a.m. -- Men's 100mHH
  - Mark Smith
- 10:45 a.m. -- Men's Discus
  - Mark Smith
- 1:30 p.m. -- Men's Pole Vault
  - Mark Smith
- 3:30 p.m. -- Men's Javelin
  - Mark Smith
- 4:55 p.m. -- Men's 1,500m
  - Mark Smith