Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – Freshman Abigail Schaffer continued her impressive rookie campaign, winning her third pole vault competition in a row, as the Virginia Tech track and field squads closed out the VT Hokie Invitational on Saturday at the Rector Field House in Blacksburg, Va.
Schaffer moved to 3-0 in pole vault competitions in her rookie indoor season after winning the seeded section of the event on Saturday with a provisional-qualifying mark of 12-11.75. The Easton, Pa., native has bettered her clearance in each of her three performances on the year. Junior Lisa Birnbaum finished third in the event for the Hokies with a clearance of 12-06.
In her 2009 debut, junior Erika Schroeder put together a strong showing in the women’s shot put. The Bismarck, N.D., native opened her season up with a victory, launching a toss of 49-05.75. On the men’s side, junior Igor Misljenovic, also making his season debut, tossed a 55-02.25 for second place in the shot put.
Sophomore Hunter Hall continued his impressive season with another runner-up finish in the seeded section of the pole vault, clearing 17-01. The Fort Wayne, Ind., native placed second and provisionally qualified in the event on Jan. 10, with a vault of 17-03. Junior Jared Jodon finished behind Hall in third at the VT Hokie Invite’s pole vault, and joined him on the list of Tech’s provisionally-qualified pole vaulters, after clearing 17-01 as well.
The women’s 4x400-meter squad stamped an exclamation point on the meet with a second-place finish in the event at the end of the day. The quartet of juniors Queen Harrison, Kristi Castlin, freshmen Leslie Aririguzo and Aunye Boone sprinted a time of 3:48.17 to cap the Hokies’ day.
Tech will take next weekend off before hitting the road for the Penn State National Invite on Jan. 30 and 31. Results will be posted on hokiesports.com following the meet.
Women’s Results
Pole Vault – 1, Abigail Schaffer, Virginia Tech, 12-11.75, 2, Erin Mahony, Unattached, 12-06, 3, Lisa Birnbaum, Virginia Tech, 12-06
Shot Put – 1, Erika Schroeder, Virginia Tech, 49-05.75
4x400-Meter Relay – 1, North Carolina, 3:41.73, 2, Virginia Tech, 3:48.17
Men’s Results
Shot Put – 1, Yemi Ayeni, Virginia, 61-08.25, 2, Igor Misljenovic, Virginia Tech, 55-02.25
Pole Vault (seeded) – 1, Brian Mondschein, Unattached, 18-00.50, 2, Hunter Hall, Virginia Tech, 17-01, 3, Jared Jodon, Virginia Tech, 17-01