State of the Program - Women’s Track and Field

Just like on the Men’s side, the Virginia Women’s Track and Field program is a program on the rise. After not scoring points to place in either the indoor or the outdoor NCAA Track and Field Championships from 2015 to 2017, the 2018 Hoos broke through with a 43rd place finish in the spring’s NCAA Outdoor Championships. Then this past year, they earned the program’s highest finish at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships since 2011 with a 30th place finish paced by Bridget Guy’s fourth place finish in the pole vault. But much like the men’s team, the future has some uncertainty with the resignation of Bryan Fetzer

2019 Recap

2019 Stars: Bridget Guy, Andrenette Knight, Anna Jefferson, Kelly McKee, Khyasia Caldwell-Adams, Kiera Bothwell, Ciara Leonard, Jade Baker

The 2019 season saw a major leap for the Women’s Track and Field team. In addition to their 30th place finish at the NCAA Championships, the Hoos also scored points at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, finishing 48th. At the conference level, the Hoos came in third in this season’s ACC Championships behind Guy’s second consecutive ACC Title in the pole vault.

Also winning ACC titles were Anna Jefferson in the 400m and Andrenette Knight in the 400m Hurdles. Halle Hazzard and Kelly McKee earned All-ACC honors as well, with Hazzard placing third in the 100m and McKee placing third in the Triple Jump. From the ACC Championship, the Hoos advanced 15 athletes to the NCAA East Preliminaries. From there, Knight, McKee, and Guy all advanced to the NCAA Women’s Outdoor Championships.

Finally to cap a stellar season, Guy placed fourth in the pole vault while McKee placed fifth in the triple jump on their way to All-American honors. McKee’s fifth place finish was the program’s best ever finish in the Triple Jump.

2020 Outlook

Key Returners: Anna Jefferson, Andrenette Knight, Halle Hazard, Thelma Kristjansdottir, Kiera Bothwell

While the Hoos will have to replace Guy and McKee, Andrenette Knight might be the best overall of the bunch. Having advanced to the NCAA Championships each of the last three years, Knight will look to improve on her 12th place finish in the 400m Hurdles this season. Then there is Halle Hazard, who only in her second year with the Hoos already owns the fastest time in UVA history in the 100m in addition to her third place finish in the event at the ACC Championships.

Thelma Kristjansdottir will look to continue Virginia’s history of standout throwers and improve on her 5th place finish at the ACC Championships in the Discuss. Kiera Bothwell also earned All-ACC honors as a sophomore with her fourth place finish in the Steeplechase. Finally, of the 15 Hoos that competed at the NCAA East Preliminaries, eight return suggesting the best for the Cavaliers may be yet to come.