Kent State University
Virginia Challenge
Flashes Return to Action at Virginia Challenge
4/18/2019 3:56:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
Kent State continues the outdoor track and field season this weekend as the Virginia Challenge, which will be held Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20 inside of the University of Virginia's Lannigan Field.
Both days will feature morning and evening sessions, with the invitational sections and relays being held at night. Action begins at 9 a.m. on Friday with the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, men's and women's triple jump and men's and women's pole vault.
Previewing the Flashes
Kent State has a total of 30 student-athletes registered for competition at the Virginia Challenge, including 14 members of the men's team and 16 members of the women's team.
Throwers Gabby Bailey and Grace Tennant will look to continue strong starts to the outdoor season in the women's discus throw and shot put. Bailey owns the second-best marks in the Mid-American Conference in both events, including a personal-best throw of 170'-8" in the discus this past weekend. Tennant has posted PRs and owns a No. 62 national ranking in both events. On the men's side, Ryan Demaline (shot put), Trevor Detillion (discus) and Jake Wickey (hammer throw) all own top-3 marks in the MAC this season.
Christian Champen ranks 36th nationally in the men's pole vault after clearing 17'-0.75" last weekend in Knoxville. Maria Horrigan, Christy Nell and Ally Thompson are all in the top-5 in the conference in the women's pole vault.
On the track, Clark Bookman will be the top-ranked Golden Flash in action. Bookman's 3,000-meter steeplechase time of 9:02.05 at the Raleigh Relays is the 49th-fastest time in the nation and puts him at No. 5 in the Kent State record book.
Rachel Banks (800m), Kalli Barrett (3K steeplechase) and Nicole Yeargin (400m) have each recorded the 10th-best time in program history in the event they are scheduled to compete in this weekend.
How to Follow the Virginia Challenge
Live results will be available online for the duration of the meet.
Next Up For Kent State
The Golden Flashes will head to the Jesse Owens Classic next weekend for competition on Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27.
Players Mentioned
