Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. -- Tech hosted the Hokie Open Friday, its final contest before NCAA Regionals and Nationals. Against an intrasquad field, Joesph Murray and Stephanie Cario came away victorious in the men’s 6,000-meters and the women’s 4,000-meters, respectively.
Murray led the men’s field at 18:36.82. A group of Tech competitiors, competing unattached, finished in a group shortly thereafter, led by Devin Cornwall (2nd, 18:42.69), with Michael Hammond (3rd, 18:43.04), Will Mulherin (18:43.28) and Leoule Degfae (5th, 18:43.57) all finishing back-to-back. The Hokies’ three remaining attached competitors finished in seventh, eighth and ninth, respectivley, with Kevin Dowd in front (19:00.43), followed by Yazid Zouaimia (19:05.23) and Grant Pollock (19:21.74).
Four attached competitors for Tech swept the top four in the women’s 4k race, with Stephanie Cario leading the way at 14:42.93, almost ten seconds ahead of second place. Jackie Merrick crossed the line next at 14:50.01, followed by Marty Catherine Sowder (3rd, 15:33.16) and Erica Weidman (4th, 15:58.56). Samantha Sawyer (5th, 16:08.15) and Lindsay Skolrood (6th, 16:12.91), competing unattached, were next, followed by Tech’s final attached runner, Jennifer Van Der Sloot (7th, 16:53.40).
Next weekend, the Hokies travel to Louisville, Ky. for the NCAA Southeast Region Championships on Saturday, Nov. 13 with events set to start at 11 a.m.