Hokie ClubDES MOINES, Iowa – The Virginia Tech men's track & field program finished fifth as a team and senior Michael Hammond placed fourth in the 1500 meters as competition concluded Saturday at the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship at Drake Stadium.
The Hokie men matched their program-best fifth place finish from last year's NCAA Outdoor Championship as they scored 33 points. It marked the third straight national championship that Tech has earned a top-10 finish as the Hokies also finished tied for eighth at this year's NCAA Indoor Championship.
"It was a tremendous team effort by the men to place fifth in the nation,” said Tech director track & field and cross country Dave Cianelli. "I'm so proud of our coaches, staff and our student-athletes who competed extremely well."
Hammond, Tech's lone competitor on Saturday, earned his highest ever finish at nationals by finishing fourth, clocking a time of 3:44.47 in the 1500 meters. He garnered his third career All-America honor.
"It feels really good," said Hammond of his fourth place finish. "Definitely my goal was to try and win. I can't complain about fourth with that field with four national champions in it."
"The first 400 (meters) was pretty slow," Hammond noted. "(German) Fernandez of Oklahoma State gradually notched down the pace and each lap just got faster and faster. I just stayed right up on the back of the lead group. I never lost position, never lost contact. With about 250 to go, I saw an opening and just went. Honestly, at that point I was thinking 'I could win this'. I was feeling really good, but the last 100, (Indiana's Andrew) Bayer and (BYU's Miles) Batty had another gear. I just tried to hold on for third. (NC State's Ryan) Hill nipped me at the end. It was a great race."
Florida won the men's team title with 50 points and was followed by LSU (48). Texas A&M (40), Florida State (38) and Virginia Tech (33) rounded out the top-5. LSU won the women's team title with 76 points as Oregon was second (62). Texas A&M was third (38), while Clemson and Kansas tied for fourth (28).
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) will officially announce All-America awards early next week.
Virginia Tech's NCAA Championship Results Recap
Men
Alexander Ziegler - hammer throw, National Champion (248-7, 75.78m), personal best
Matthias Treff - javelin throw, 3rd (248-9, 75.83m), season best
Michael Hammond - 1500 meters, 4th (3:40.27 semifinals, 3:44.47 final)
Hasheem Halim - triple jump, 4th (54-1.25, 16.49m), school record, personal best
Darrell Wesh - 100 meters, 4th (10.15 semifinals, school record; 10.30 final)
Joe Davis - pole vault, 7th (17-8.5, 5.40m), personal best
Ronnie Black - high jump, 9th (7-2.5, 2.20m)
Jeff Artis-Gray - long jump, 13th (24-6.5, 7.48m)
4x100 meter relay - Jeff Artis-Gray, Darrell Wesh, Jonathan McCants, Keith Ricks, 13th (39.62), school record
Hunter Hall - pole vault, 16th (17-4.5, 5.30m)
Keith Ricks - 100 meters, 19th (10.27) and 200 meters, 20th (20.96)
Will Mulherin - 5000 meters, 21st (14:30.11)
Denis Mahmic - hammer throw, NP
Women
Martina Schultze - pole vault, t13th (13-7.25, 4.15m)
Valentina Muzaric - shot put, 14th (53-3.5, 16.24m)
Sammy Dow - 3000 meter steeplechase, 23rd (10:49.92)