Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech track and field squads started their 2009 indoor campaigns strongly, as junior Asia Washington set a school record, junior Kristi Castlin provisionally-qualified in the 60-meter hurdles and five freshmen earned top-five finishes to highlight the first day of the Virginia Tech Invitational at the Rector Field House in Blacksburg, Va., on Friday.
The women’s 500-meter dash highlighted the opening day for Tech, as junior Asia Washington broke the school and facility record in the event with a time of 1:12.23, crossing the line in first place. Junior Queen Harrison, who held the former record, placed third with a time of 1:13.12, while freshman Aunye Boone had a strong showing, taking fourth at 1:15.33.
Junior Kristi Castlin did not disappoint in her 2009 debut, earning a NCAA Indoor provisional-qualifying time in the 60-meter hurdles, crossing the line in 8.25 for first place. Newcomer Leslie Aririguzo also had a strong collegiate debut, placing fifth with a time of 8.53.
After winning the pole vault in her first competition of the season at the Appalachian Invitational on Dec. 5, freshman Abigail Schaffer captured her second consecutive victory in the pole vault with a clearance of 12-07.50 on Friday. Junior Lisa Birnbaum came in second with a vault of 12-01.50, and sophomore Caitlin Thornley took fifth, clearing 11-01.75.
On the men’s side, freshman Nick Vaughn finished second in the 500-meters, edged out by Wake Forest’s Michael Bingham by less than eight tenths-of-a second. Vaughn crossed the line in 1:03.86, the fifth-fastest time in the event in school history.
Freshman Hasheem Halim took third in the triple jump with a leap of 48-06.75. Halim was the final of five Hokie freshmen who earned top-five finishes on the day.
Virginia Tech Invitational action will continue on Saturday with the men’s high jump at 10 a.m. Results will be posted on hokiesports.com following the meet.
Women
60-meter hurdles – 1, Kristi Castlin, Virginia Tech, 8.25, 2, Racquel Vassell, Hampton, 8.37, 3, Ayla Smith, Virginia, 8.45, 4, Loreal Smith, NC A&T, 5, Leslie Aririguzo, Virginia Tech, 8.53
Pole Vault – 1, Abigail Schaffer, Virginia Tech, 12-07.50, 2, Lisa Birnbaum, Virginia Tech, 12-01.50, 3, Carrie Long, Gardner-Webb, 11-07.75, 4, Erin Mahony, Unattached, 11-07.75, 5, Caitlin Thornley, Virginia Tech, 11-01.75
500-meter dash – 1, Asia Washington, Virginia Tech, 1:12.23, 2, Alexandria Spruiel, NC A&T, 1:12.24, 3, Queen Harrison, Virginia Tech, 1:13.12, 4, Aunye Boone, Virginia Tech, 1:15.33, 5, Janee Cadlett, NC A&T, 1:16.94
Men
500-meter dash – 1, Michael Bingham, Wake Forest, 1:03.09, 2, Nick Vaughn, Virginia Tech, 1:03.86
Triple Jump – 1, Akeem Hardnett, Tennessee, 50-05.25, 2, Jake Didion, Gardner-Webb, 50-00, 3, Hasheem Halim, Virginia Tech, 48-06.75