BLACKSBURG, Va. – Senior All-American pole vaulter Joe Davis and senior sprinter Keith Ricks (200 meters) each won individual events as the Virginia Tech men’s and women’s indoor track & field teams competed on the second and final day of the Hokie Invitational at Rector Field House on Saturday. Combined with six wins from yesterday, the Hokies earned eight individual victories on the weekend.
“I’m really pleased with the improvements we made in the last week,” said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Dave Cianelli. “We had outstanding meets from some of our student-athletes who were competing for the first time this season. I think we’re right on track to be prepared for the ACC Championships in a little over a month.”
In the men’s pole vault, Davis cleared an indoor personal best of 17 feet, seven inches (5.36m) to place first. Freshman Chris Uhle was sixth at 4.91m (16-1.25) and senior Mike Miller was seventh at 4.76m (15-7.25) for Tech. Competing unattached, Hunter Hall was second with a beast clearance of 5.21m (17-1).
Ricks won the men’s 200-meter dash in a time of 21.46 seconds. Junior Jonathan McCants and sophomore Darrell Wesh each set a PR in the event as McCants was fourth (21.55) and Wesh seventh (21.87). Junior Jeff Artis-Gray was second in the long jump with a best leap of 24-4.5 (7.43m) on his final attempt.
Tech took places two through five in the women’s 200 meters. Senior Ogechi Nwaneri was second (24.36), senior Aunye Boone third (24.37), junior Jameice DeCoster fourth (24.65) and sophomore Ebony Scott fifth (24.90). In addition, freshman Ciara Simms was seventh (25.00).
In the women’s 400 meters, junior Yvonne Amegashie finished fourth in 55.74 and classmate Natalie Woodford was sixth in 56.59.
Sophomore Kristen Brown tied for seventh in the women’s pole vault with a jump of 12-6 (3.81m). Competing unattached in the pole vault, newcomer Victoria von Eynatten won the event with a clearance of 14-1.75 (4.31m).
In the final running event of the day, the men’s 4x400-meter relay team of Artis-Gray, Wesh, Ricks and McCants finished fifth in 3:20.72.
Following an idle weekend, Tech returns to action on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3-4, back at Rector Field House as it hosts the VT Elite Meet.