PHILADELPHIA, Pa. Junior Meghan Briggs highlighted the opening day of the 115th Penn Relays for the Virginia track and field teams, winning the championship section of the javelin with a personal-best throw of 172’ 9”, while the women’s distance medley relay team won the college section of its event and junior Lauretta Dezubay hit the regional qualifying mark in the 5k.

Briggs, competing against some of the nation’s top javelin throwers, led the field throughout the majority of the competition, before Penn State All-American Karlee McQuillen threw 169’ 8” on her final throw to surpass Briggs for the lead. With one final throw, the two-time ACC Champion needed a personal-best mark to retake the lead, which she hit, throwing 172’ 9” to earn the program its third javelin title at the meet. The victory was the first for the Cavaliers’ women’s program since All-American Ann Crouse won the javelin at the Relays in 1999. Three-time All-American Julia Solo also won a javelin title in 1989.

In the women’s DMR, junior Sara Casscells, freshman Meagan Gillespie, junior Lyndsay Harper and ACC Freshman of the Year Morgane Gay teamed for a time of 11:33.00 to win the college section of the event, while Dezubay finished 16th in the 5000m championship in an NCAA regional qualifying time of 16:49.61.

In the Olympic Development section of the 3000m steeplechase, sophomore Andrew Mearns finished fifth in 9:06.37.

In field competition, freshman Tara Karin finished second in the college javelin, throwing 142’ 0”, while junior Katie Darraugh finished fourth in the pole vault, clearing 11’ 11.75”. Senior Alexa Manning finished fifth in the shot put, throwing 46’ 6.25”.

The Cavaliers will return to action tomorrow for the second day of the Relays.