Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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10 ◆ CAVALIER CORNER Virginia Athletics enjoyed much success in 2016-17. Our student-athletes excelled in their sports, earning personal bests and both team and individual championships. Here are photos from these championships as well as recognition of our top male and female athletes of the 2016-17 academic year. A special thank you to all Virginia Athletics Foundation donors who support these student-athletes in their quest for Uncompromised Excellence. IMP AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING FEMALE ATHLETE Leah Smith won the ACC title for the fourth consecutive year in both the 500-yard freestyle and the 1650-yard freestyle events. She was also part of the 800-yard freestyle relay team that earned the ACC title. She concluded her ACC championship career with nine individual titles, which tied for the second-most in ACC history, and tied for the most in UVA history with a total of 13. At the NCAA Championships, Smith swam a personal- best in the 500-yard freestyle, touching the wall as the second person in the event's history to swim under 4:30 (4:28.90). Leah is also a five-time All-American and a 2016 Olympic Gold and Bronze Medalist, earning a gold in the 4x200-meter freestyle and a bronze in the 400-meter freestyle. WINA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING MALE ATHLETE Filip Mihaljevic became the first UVA national champion in a field event, winning the shot put at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He also earned All-American honors in both shot put and discus. Two years in a row Filip won an ACC Indoor Championship for the shot put and won a 2016 ACC Outdoor Championship in two events, the shot put and dis- cus. Filip was named the 2016 co-ACC Outdoor Championship Men's Field MVP. He is the third student-athlete in ACC history to win four discus titles and just the ninth student-athlete to earn four titles in any single ACC outdoor event. He concludes his career with 10 ACC gold medals in the shot put (indoor and outdoor) and discus. Filip also made his Olympic debut at Rio and placed 21st in shot put. UNCOMPROMISED Congratulations UVA Student-Athletes!