// FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE //

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Track and Field Contact: Tom Fenstermaker

Morgane Gay Competes in 1,500 at Payton Jordan Invitational

Junior records ninth-best NCAA time this year

PALO ALTO, Calif.—Virginia track and field junior All-American Morgane Gay (Bethesda, Md.) finished eighth in her heat and 19th overall in the 1,500 meters at the Jordan Payton Invitational Sunday evening (April 29) at Cobb Track and Angell Field in Palo Alto, Calif.

The junior made a move from the back of the pack in the final 400 meters to finish the race in 4:15.04. The field featured many of the top middle distance runners in the NCAA as well as numerous Olympic hopefuls.

GayÂ’s time is the second-fastest 1,500-meter time of her career and the ninth-fastest time in the NCAA this year. Gay holds the Virginia record with a time of 4:14.72. She finished seventh in the event at the 2011 NCAA Championships and second at the 2012 ACC Championships on April 21.

The Cavaliers return to action May 12 for the Virginia Challenge at Lannigan Field.