Kathryn Nohilly Leads the Way for the Gators at the Virginia Challenge

Kathryn Nohilly and her father Tom Nohilly both now sit at third all time in school history in their respective steeplechase events

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Florida returns from their trip to Charlottesville, Virginia with six top-15 finishes. The Gators were led by Senior Kathryn Nohilly who continues to impress in the women’s steeplechase. After joining the all-time Florida top-10 list in the event earlier in the outdoor season, Nohilly continued moving up the list with her performance on Friday night. The New York native finished second in the women’s steeplechase invite with a time of 10:18.15. This moves her into third on the all-time women’s steeplechase top-10, the same spot that her father Tom Nohilly holds on the men’s all-time steeplechase list.

Lucinda Rourke also finished in the top-5 of her event, running an impressive race and placing fifth in the women’s 1500m invite (4:17.92). Rourke’s performance earned her a second consecutive top-5 finish in a 1500m race.

Despite Florida having less than ten runners competing at the Virginia Challenge, the Gators recorded five new outdoor or overall personal bests.

Next week the Gators will compete in both the UNF Invitational on April 28 and 29, and the LSU Invitational on April 29. These are the last regular season competitions of the 2023 outdoor season for Florida.

VIRGINIA CHALLENGE MEET

Friday’s Finals Recap

1500m

Men- In the first event of the evening, redshirt freshman Jonathan Pitchford finished eighteenth in the men’s 1500m with a time of 3:52.49.

1500m Invite

Men- Both Joe Wester and Matt Mule’ took part in the men’s 1500m invite. Wester finished thirteenth, recording a new personal best (3:43.84). His time was just 0.12 seconds off the all time top-10 list in the men’s 1500m. Matt Mule’ finished twenty-sixth (3:46.71).

Women- Freshman Lucinda Rourke finished fifth in the women’s 1500m invite (4:17.92). Her time was just 0.56 seconds behind Becky Greene’s tenth fastest women’s 1500m in school history. A week after running two new personal bests, Ashley Klingenberg finished thirteenth (4:21.98) in the 1500m invite, recording yet another personal best.

3000m Steeplechase Invite

Women- Kathryn Nohilly continues her strong outdoor season after transferring to Florida from George Washington. The Golden Bridge, New York native earned silver in the women’s 3000m steeplechase invite (10:18.15). Her time was a new personal best and the third fastest time in school history.

Men- Senior Cavan Wilson, finished twenty-second in the men’s 5K (15:04.72).

5K Invite

Women- In her outdoor 5K debut, Jordan Shapiro finished tenth (16:42.55).

10K

Men- Ethan Geiger ran his first career 10K, finishing eleventh (30:12.51).

Tom Jones Memorial Results (All events are finals unless otherwise noted)

Event

Place, Gators (Time/Distance), Notes

1500m (M)

18. Jonathan Pitchford (3:52.49)

1500m Invite (M)

13. Joe Wester (3:43.84) Personal Best