Aveni, Valenti Earn First Place Finishes in Day One of Virginia Challenge

Friday, April 16

Charlottesville, Va.

Duke University

Day One at Virginia Challenge

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Aveni, Valenti Earn First Place Finishes in Day One of Virginia Challenge

4/16/2021 11:22:00 PM | Track & Field

Day One Results (PDF)

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – For the second time during the outdoor season, Duke track & field competed in a meet at Virginia, with the Virginia Challenge getting underway on Friday.

Right out of the gate, the Blue Devils performed in the field. Graduate student Julia Valenti and sophomore Brynn King turned in strong performances in the pole vault, taking first and second place respectively. Valenti set a collegiate personal best of 4.06 meters (13-3.25 feet), while King set an outdoor personal best of 3.96m (12-11.75 feet) to secure second place.

For the second straight weekend, the Blue Devils excelled in the women's 400m. Graduate student Brittany Aveni took home first place in the event with a time of 53.06 seconds. Aveni has now won seven straight events dating back to the Raleigh Relays on March 27 and eight of nine events to start the outdoor season. Sophomore Jenna Crean impressed as well, recording a personal best time of 54.71 seconds to take third.

Distance running took over in the evening, with senior Alex Miley impressing in the 3000m steeplechase. The Maple Grove, Minn., native took home a fifth-place finish and ranked fourth among college athletes, finishing with a time of 8:50.18. Already an owner of a top-five mark in program history in the event, Miley came just 1.13 seconds shy of his previous PR, but well ahead of the fifth-fastest mark in program history.

Another senior Michaela Reinhart made waves in the 10K. In her first collegiate appearance in the event, Reinhart shined, taking third place with a time of 33:44.32. The Lexington, Ky., native's time checks in as the 19th fastest in the nation and third fastest in the ACC.

Back in the field, freshman Scott Campbell continued his electric start to his Blue Devils tenure, by winning the javelin with a mark of 66.66m (218-8 feet). Campbell picked up the first event victory of his college career and has now finished in the top-two in all three events he has competed in.

As the clock ticked past 10 p.m., the evening concluded with the men's 10K. Sophomore Zach Kinne and senior CJ Ambrosio worked together and maintained a strong pace throughout the event, ultimately securing fourth and fifth place respectively, with times of 29:34.13 and 29:35.38.

The Blue Devils will complete play at the Virginia Challenge on Saturday, with action beginning at 1 p.m. as graduate student Cha'Mia Rothwell will get started in the 100m hurdles and sophomore Elasia Campbell will start in the high jump.

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