Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech track and field squad won seven races and put together several other strong efforts on the first day of the VT Challenge at the Rector Field House in Blacksburg, Va., on Friday.
To start out the day, senior Natalie Sherbak ran an impressive race in the 1,000-meters for the Hokies. The Virginia Beach, Va., native clocked a 2:47.81 to win the race, defeating the second-place finisher, Esther Vermeer of Duke, by almost seven seconds. Tech made it a clean sweep in the 1,000-meters, as freshman Will Mulherin squeaked out a victory in the event on the men’s side with a time of 2:27.30, over teammate freshman Michael Hammond, who placed second with a time of 2:27.31.
Meanwhile, Sophomore Dorotea Habazin, already provisionally qualified in the weight throw, improved on her season’s best in the event with a toss of 62-08 to capture another first-place showing for the Hokies. Habazin’s previous season best, and career best, came at the VT Elite Meet, where she launched a 61-07 to finish runner-up. In the men’s weight throw, Matej Muza earned another victory for the Hokies, tossing the weight 62-02.50. Muza out-distanced second-place finisher Richard Wooten of Tennessee by four inches.
After continually performing stronger and stronger throughout the indoor season, freshmen Leslie Aririguzo and Ogechi Nwaneri achieved provisionally-qualifying times in the women’s 60-meter hurdles and the women’s 60-meter dash, respectively. Nwaneri placed first in the women’s 60-meter dash with a provisionally-qualifying time of 7.40. Aririguzo clocked in at 8.43, the exact provisional mark, to take fourth in the 60-meter hurdles.
The Hokies received several strong performances in the men’s 600-meter run, with sophomore Ryan Witt taking first in the race, posting a time of 1:20.16. Tech placed four runners in the top five, with senior Billy Berlin and sophomore Jeff Miller earning second and fourth, respectively. Berlin clocked a 1:20.45, while Miller crossed the line at 1:21.00. Sophomore Nick McLaughlin placed fifth in the race with a time of 1:21.16. Freshman Lauren Lemieux powered through the finish line in the women’s 600-meters to notch fourth place in 1:38.88.
Tech runners took first and second in the men’s 200-meter dash to close out the first day of the meet. Freshman Keith Ricks ended the day for the Hokies with another victory, securing first in the 200-meters with a time of 21.42. Teammate freshman Nick Vaughn followed closely behind, finishing runner-up with a time of 21.53. On the women’s side junior Asia Washington ran a 24.38 to finish fourth in the 200-meter dash, while Aririguzo came in fifth, crossing the line in 24.73.
The VT Challenge continues Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m., with the men’s high jump. Action for the Hokies starts at 11 a.m., where sophomores Caitlin Thornley, Kelly Phillips and freshman Abby Schaffer will compete in the invitational section of the pole vault. Results will be available on hokiesports.com following the meet.
Women’s Results
1,000-meters – 1, Natalie Sherbak, Virginia Tech, 2:47.81, 2, Esther Vermeer, Duke, 2:54.59, 3, Ariel Burbey, William & Mary, 2:55.11
Weight Throw – 1, Dorotea Habazin, Virginia Tech, 62-08, 2, Lawanda Henry, NC State, 59-05, 3, Brittany McCain, NC State, 53-07.50
60-meter dash – 1, Ogechi Nwaneri, Virginia Tech, 7.40, 2, Barbara Pierre, St. Augustine’s, 7.41, 3, Tanique Carter, James Madison, 7.53
60-meter hurdles – 1, Shell Green, Unattached, 8.27, 2, Aleshia Barber, Penn State, 8.30, 3, Shermaine Williams, Johnson C. Smith, 8.40, 4, Leslie Aririguzo, Virginia Tech, 8.43
600-meter run – 1, Alexis Kauffman, UNC Wilmington, 1:37.77, 2, Jessica Fanning, Unattached, 1:37.81, 3, Lauren Donaldson, UNC Wilmington, 1:38.65, 4, Lauren Lemieux, Virginia Tech, 1:38.88
200-meter dash – 1, Ashlee Kidd, Unattached, 23.95, 2, Tanique Carter, James Madison, 24.13, 3, Ajoke Odumosu, Unattached, 24.20, 4, Asia Washington, Virginia Tech, 24.38, 5, Leslie Aririguzo, Virginia Tech, 24.73.
Men’s Results
1,000-meter run – 1, William Mulherin, Virginia Tech, 2:27.30, 2, Michael Hammond, Virginia Tech, 2:27.31, 3, Chris Tyson, William & Mary, 2:28.49
600-meter run – 1, Ryan Witt, Virginia Tech, 1:20.16, 2, Billy Berlin, Virginia Tech, 1:20.45, 3, Chris Courson, Unattached, 1:20.97, 4, Jeff Miller, Virginia Tech, 1:21.00, 5, Nick McLaughlin, Virginia Tech, 1:21.16
Weight Throw – 1, Matej Muza, Virginia Tech, 62-02.50, 2, Richard Wooten, Tennessee, 61-10.50, 3, Jason Jones, NC State, 56-06
200-meter dash – 1, Keith Ricks, Virginia Tech, 21.42, 2, Nick Vaughn, Virginia Tech, 21.53, 3, Travon Lee, St. Augustine’s, 21.73