BOSTON, Mass. – Three Virginia Tech multi-event athletes competed on day one of the seven-event men’s heptathlon as the 2012 Atlantic Coast Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship began competition on Thursday at the Reggie Lewis Track Center. Sophomore Scott Campbell stands in fourth place after day one with 2,655 points, while senior Mike Miller (2,443 points) and redshirt freshman Matt Hoogland (2,426 points), who are both competing in their first ever heptathlon, are in ninth and tenth, respectively.
“It was a very good first day for all three individuals competing in the heptathlon,” said director of track & field and cross country Dave Cianelli. “We are looking forward to another strong day tomorrow.”
Campbell began the day by running the best time of the 13-man field in the 60 meter dash, clocking a personal best 7.12, good for 840 points. He had the third best mark in the long jump with a leap of 22 feet, one and three quarter inches (6.75m) and earned 755 points. Campbell then tied a personal best in the shot put with a throw of 31-9.5 (9.69m), which earned him 467 points. In the final event of the day, Campbell posted a mark of 5-9.25 (1.76m) in the high jump, good for 593 points and just off his PR of 5-9.75 (1.77m).
Miller started the heptathlon with a time of 7.36 in the 60 meters (759 points) and followed with a PR of 19-11.5 (6.08m) in the long jump (604 points). He placed fifth in the shot put event with a mark of 35-6.75 (10.84m), earning 536 points and wrapped up his day with a mark of 5-7 in the high jump (544 points).
Hoogland opened with a 7.57 in the 60 meters (690 points) and then leaped a personal best 20-8 (6.30m) in the long jump and scored 652 points. In the shot put, Hoogland had a best throw of 33-1.25 (10.09m), good for 491 points. He scored 593 points with a clearance of 5-9.25 (1.76m) in the high jump to complete day one.
Duke’s Curtis Beach leads the heptathlon after day one with 3,134 points.
Tomorrow, Campbell, Miller and Hoogland will compete in the final three events of the heptathlon: the 60 meter hurdles, pole vault and 1,000 meters. Campbell was seventh in last year’s heptathlon at the ACC Indoor Championship at Rector Field House in Blacksburg with a personal best score of 4,603 points.
Field events begin tomorrow at 12 noon with the women’s high jump. Running events start at 1:30 p.m. with the qualifying heats of the men’s and women’s mile.
Fans can get all the information for the 2012 ACC Indoor Track & Field Championship at: http://www.theacc.com/championships/12-indoor-track-field-championship.html