LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Virginia Cavaliers opened the 2009 indoor track and field season Thursday evening at the Liberty Kickoff Invitational at the Tolsma Indoor Track. Third-year Ayla Smith tied the school record in the 60m hurdles, while third-year Rainer Fiala and first-years Maureen Laffan, Matthias Meyer and Erin Wykoff all had performances that rank in the all-time top-10 at Virginia.

Smith won the 60m hurdles in 8.55, while second-year Chidimma Uche finished runner-up in 8.96. In the men’s 60m dash, Meyer finished fourth in 6.96, to rank sixth on the all-time chart, while Fiala crossed with the programs ninth-best time, claiming sixth in 6.99.

Wykoff took runner-up honors in her first-ever collegiate competition, throwing the ninth-best throw in school history, 14.88m (48’10”), while classmate Maureen Laffan was just shy of Wykoff, throwing 14.84m (48’8.25”), for second place and the 10th-best mark in Virginia’s records.

Fourth-year Caitlin Kelly won her event, claiming the shot put title with a personal-best throw of 12.97m (42’06.75”) and second-year Sophia Coleburn took second with a mark of 12.47m (40’11”).

In the high jump, second-years Assiatu Williams and Callie Hlavin cleared a height of 1.63m (5’4.25”) to finish second and third, respectively.

Other top finishes for the Cavaliers include second-year Kristina Chapman’s runner-up finish in the 200m in 25.83 and Fiala’s third-place finish for the men in 22.67.

First-year Meagan Gillespie took third in the 400m in 59.00 and third-year Eric Pickle finished third in the shot put with a throw of 15.68m (51’05.5”).

Virginia will return to action following the holidays, traveling to Blacksburg, Va., on Thursday, Jan. 9 to participate in the Virginia Tech Invitational.