University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia Challenge Day 2
Shippee Breaks UNC Hammer Record At Virginia Challenge
April 21, 2018 | Track & Field
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va./DURHAM, N.C. - The University of North Carolina's Jillian Shippee became the latest Tar Heel to set a UNC track & field record Saturday as she broke Laura Gerraughty's '03 record at the Virginia Challenge at Lannigan Field.
On the final day of competition for the Tar Heels at the Virginia Challenge and Duke Invitational, Shippee, a freshman from Clifton Park, N.Y., produced the biggest highlight of the day when she threw for 207-3 (63.19 meters) in the hammer throw on her first attempt to win the competition and break the record.
"I was pretty amped up after that first one," Shippee said. " I wasn't able to locate it because I was so excited. I'm just happy that the training is really starting to come together right now. I was able to find my rhythm today, and I'm hoping that come championship time I can hit in that range and continue to progress."
For the highly-touted high school national champion, it was only a matter of when she would break Gerraughty's record. She joins a group of three other current Tar Heels that now own six of UNC's track and field records - Brianna Duncan (60 meters, all-conditions 100 meters, outdoor 200 meters), Kenny Selmon (400-meter hurdles) and Moragan Ilse (indoor 5,000 meters).
"I was extremely happy to see Jill Shippee have a fantastic day, breaking the school record in the women's hammer set by Laura Gerraughty," Meaders said. "Of course Laura was a future Olympian in the shot put. Quite an accomplishment to see that record go down for a freshman. She is an extremely-talented kid and has been working really hard."
Her throw on the day was also the best in the ACC, the third-best in the east region and the 15th-best in the NCAA this season.
Also in the hammer throw, redshirt-junior Alex Cooke finished just off of her lifetime best, throwing for 195-7 (59.63 meters) to take fifth.
The highlight at the Duke Invitational came from redshirt-sophomore Jared Martin, who shattered his lifetime best in the javelin to move into the 200-feet club and take fourth in a competitive competition. Martin threw over the 200-foot barrier three times with a best throw of 211-3 (64.40 meters) coming on his sixth and final attempt.
"Coach [Jeff] Gorski is doing a fantastic job working with Jared," Meaders said. "He is of course only in his second year of competing in the javelin, but he is having a phenomenal season so far."
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Virginia Challenge
• In the women's 5,000-meter invite, senior Caroline Alcorta and junior Morgan Ilse both set lifetime bests in the highly-competitive race. Alcorta ran 16:01.59 to take third and break her previous-best time by 12 seconds. That time is third in the ACC, 11th in the east and 21st in the nation this season. Ilse ran 16:05.83 to take fourth and break her previous best by 11 seconds. Her time is fifth in the ACC, 13th in the east region and 25th in the NCAA this season.
• In the women's 200 meters, junior Katlin Sherman won the competition over 36 other sprinters with a season-best time of 23.93. Senior Cierra Dunston ran a lifetime-best 24.11 to take sixth.
• In the men's 1,500 meters, redshirt-freshman Alex Milligan set a lifetime best of 3:49.39 to win his section.
"I was really impressed by Caroline and Morgan in the 5,000," Meaders said. "Significant lifetime bests for those kids in a very talented field, including some post-collegiate runners. I think they competed really, really well."
Duke Invitational
• In the men's high jump, redshirt sophomore Draven Crist set an outdoor personal best, jumping 6-11 ½ to take fourth.
FRIDAY'S HIGHLIGHT
Senior Blake Dodge clocked an outdoor personal best in the women's 800 meters on the first day of the Virginia Challenge, using a strong final 200 after losing position ahead of the final turn of the 800 meters to finish third in the event and register an outdoor personal best of 2:07.25. That time is also good for sixth in the ACC and it is just two tenths of a second off of her lifetime best.
UP NEXT: The Tar Heels return to Charlottesville next Saturday for the final meet of the regular season, the Virginia Grand Prix (April 28) at Lannigan Field. Follow the Tar Heels at @unctrack_field on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for updates all season long.
Players Mentioned
