Women's XC/Track 5/3/2021 1:35:00 PM

Salisbury, Stokes Break Four-Minute Mile Barrier as Georgetown Impresses at Virginia Grand Prix

WASHINGTON – Jack Salisbury and Parker Stokes clocked 3:56.22 and 3:59.89 in the outdoor mile, respectively, to highlight a strong performance from the Georgetown track & field program at Saturday's Virginia Grand Prix at UVA.

DIRECTOR OF CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK & FIELD ALTON MCKENZIE ON THE VIRGINIA GRAND PRIX:
"As a team we certainly utilized the Virginia Grand Prix as a good meet to garner momentum as we head into the BIG EAST Championships. We had several personal bests across multiple events from our men and women. Freshmen Mary Hennelly and Chloe Gonzalez ran competitive races to establish new personal bests in the 1500m, and we also saw progress in the field from Lyric Harris jumping a collegiate best and top five mark in Georgetown's history books. But the efforts from our men in the 800m and mile certainly are worth special mention. 1:47.17 from Matt Payamps is a top-10 time in school history in an event where we have had tremendous success––this being Matt's first outdoor season as a Hoya–– and 3:56.22 in the mile by Jack Salisbury puts him in special company as well and is the third-fastest time run at the distance by a Georgetown student-athlete. Parker also creeping under the 4:00 minute barrier running 3:59.82 for second added to the excitement with him already having put his mark down in the steeplechase this year. What was most impressive was the team spirit shown by all our men and women watching the men's mile on the sidelines and around the oval; we were heard on and off the track. The enthusiasm, team support, and excitement definitely came across as we celebrated Jack and Parker's achievement and provided the kind of positive energy we want to see as we head into the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships in two weeks."

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES (MEN):

In a unique opportunity to race the mile outdoors, Salisbury and Stokes both broke the elusive four-minute barrier for the first time in their respective careers. Salisbury, who closed the final 400 meters in 57 seconds, stopped the clock at 3:56.22 for the win. Stokes finished second with a time of 3:59.89.
The men's 200-meter dash saw freshman Joshua Paige return to action for the Hoyas and continue his breakout season, finishing fourth overall and setting a lifetime best of 21.46. His mark ranks No. 10 all-time in Georgetown history.
In the men's 800-meter run, Matthew Payamps used a massive kick to finish third, running 1:47.17. His time ranks No. 10 all-time and is the fastest time run by a Hoya since 2017, while Tim McInerney set a personal best of 1:50.65.
Shea Weilbaker recorded a personal best in the men's 5000-meter run to finish seventh overall. His time of 14:00.48 currently ranks 11th in the BIG EAST.
Andrew Robinson and D'Andre Barriffe finished fourth and fifth in section two of the men's 100-meter dash, running 10.81 and 10.88, respectively. Robinson's time is a personal best and for Barriffe, he equaled his lifetime best.
In the men's long jump, Christopher Pitt set a lifetime best of 6.96 meters to finish ninth overall.
The men's 4x100-meter relay of Josiah Laney, Paige, Barriffe and Robinson improved upon their previous season's best mark of 41.44, set back in March at the Raleigh Relays, running 41.05 finishing third overall.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES (WOMEN):

Lyric Harris set a collegiate best in the women's triple jump landing a mark of 11.91 meters, good for No. 5 all-time in the Georgetown record book.
The women's 1500-meter run saw three Hoyas set lifetime best marks. Alie Fordyce and Chloe Gonzalez finished sixth and seventh running 4:22.75 and 4:23.14, respectively. Gonzalez's mark was a personal best by five seconds, while Mary Hennelly set a personal best of 4:25.38 to win section two.
Following up her impressive debut at 10,000-meter run, Charlotte Dannatt set a 16-second personal best at 5000-meter run, running 16:24.36. Her time ranks No. 10 in the conference.
Tamiya Roberts set a lifetime best mark of 12.12 in the women's 100-meter dash to finish ninth.
In the women's 400-meter dash, Cathilyn McIntosh and Chelsea Smith finished eighth and ninth overall running 56.15 and 57.94, respectively.
Sierra Dinneen set a personal best and broke the 2:10 barrier for the first time in her career, running 2:09.26 in the women's 800-meter run.