Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – For the second meet in a row junior Asia Washington set a school record for Virginia Tech track and field, earning a time of 1:31.84 in the 600-meter run on the opening day of the VT Hokie Invitational at the Rector Field House in Blacksburg, Va., on Friday.
Washington, who set a Tech record in the 500-meter dash on Jan. 9 at the Virginia Tech Invitational, took first in the 600-meters by almost three seconds with the record time of 1:31.84. The Piscataway, N.J., native shattered the old school record of 1:37.33 set by Heather Mullis in 2006. Senior Shakirra Pinnock came in second for the Hokies with a strong time of 1:34.14.
Tech grabbed another victory on the day, as freshman Aunye Boone won her first race as a Hokie in the 300-meter dash. The St. Leonard, Md., product topped the field with a time of 38.64, making her the third-fastest performer in the event in school history.
Junior Kristi Castlin ran the best time of the field in the prelims of the 60-meter hurdles, clocking a provisional-qualifying 8.23. The Douglasville, Ga., native placed second in the finals of the event with a time of 8.28, while teammate freshman Leslie Aririguzo took sixth, running 8.62. On the men’s side, Keare Smith impressed with a fourth-place finish, earning a time of 8.09 in the 60-meter hurdles, after qualifying for the finals with an 8.10 posting in the prelims.
The Virginia Tech throws units made their 2009 debuts on Friday, and sophomore Dorotea Habazin shined in her season opener. Habazin tossed a personal-best 60-06 in the weight throw to finish runner-up in the event. The launch betters the Zagreb, Croatia native’s previous career best by over a foot.
In relay action, the women’s distance medley relay got strong legs from senior Natalie Sherbak in the 1,000-meters and junior Queen Harrison in the 400-meters to take fourth with a time of 11:58.26. A late kick by junior Devin Cornwall on the final lap of the 1,600-meter leg helped the men’s distance medley relay squad finish fourth with a time of 10:02.27.
Freshman Hasheem Halim closed out the day with a fifth-place showing in the men’s triple jump. The Lilburn, Ga., native jumped 48-09.50 in Tech’s final event of the day.
Events will continue Saturday in the VT Hokie Invitational at 9 a.m., with the women’s high jump. Running events begin at 12:30 p.m., with the women’s mile run. Full results will be posted on hokiesports.com following the conclusion of the meet.
Women’s Results
Distance Medley Relay – 1, Georgetown, 11:42.33, 2, Virginia, 11:45.54, 3, Charlotte, 11:58.25, 4, Virginia Tech, 11:58.26
60-Meter Hurdles – 1, Vanneisha Ivy, North Carolina, 8.18, 2, Kristi Castlin, Virginia Tech, 8.28, 3, Teona Rodgers, Florida State, 8.36, 4, Ayla Smith, Virginia, 8.44, 5, Leauna Sistrunk, Coastal Carolina, 6, Leslie Aririguzo, 8.62
600-Meter Dash – 1, Asia Washington, Virginia Tech, 1:31.84, 2, Shakirra Pinnock, Virginia Tech, 1:34.14
Weight Throw – 1, Lawanda Henry, NC State, 61-04, 2, Dorotea Habazin, Virginia Tech, 60-06
300-Meter Dash – 1, Aunye Boone, Virginia Tech, 38.64
Men’s Results
Distance Medley Relay – 1, George Mason, 9:58.87, 2, Virginia, 9:59.77, North Carolina, 10:00.35, 4, Virginia Tech, 10:02.27
60-Meter Hurdles – 1, Chris Kinney, Georgetown, 7.91, 2, Daniel Kinney, Howard, 7.97, 3, Marlon Woods, Norfolk State, 8.03, 4, Keare Smith, Virginia Tech, 8.09
Triple Jump – 1, Austin David, North Carolina, 51-05.50, 2, Corey Vinston, Norfolk State, 50-2.50, 3, Marlon Woods, Norfolk State, 50-02.50, 4, Lavell Handy, George Mason, 49-05.00, 5, Hasheem Halim, Virginia Tech, 48-09.50