Hokie ClubALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Both Amanda Smith and Torben Laidig garnered All-America honors after a successful final day of the 2014 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. In all, every Hokie who competed at the meet this weekend garnered All-America honors.
After a quality performance in yesterday’s 800-meter semifinal, Amanda Smith raced her way to a fifth-place finish in the final to earn All-America honors for the first time in her career. Smith earned the honors after winning this year’s individual ACC Championship in the 800-meter.
In his first year competing collegiately, Torben Laidig worked his way to a sixth place finish in the men’s pole vault, tying his personal best of 17’10.50” (5.45m). In Laidig’s debut season, he earned an individual ACC Championship and was named an All-American.
Smith and Laidig join yesterday’s All-Americans (Tihut Degfae, Leoule Degfae, Martin Dally and Grant Pollock – Men’s distance medley relay, Martina Schultze – Women’s pole vault) making seven total All-America honors for the Hokies during the 2014 indoor season.
“It was an outstanding weekend for Virginia Tech track & field. Whenever you send a group of people to the NCAA Championships and they all earn All-America honors you have to be proud,” explained Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Dave Cianelli. “Martina and the men’s distance medley relay did a tremendous job yesterday night to kick things off for us and tonight Torben and Amanda ended things on a high note. For a large group of these competitors, it was the first time that they have competed at the NCAA Championships. It’s definitely a great way to end the indoor season.”
The Virginia Tech track & field team will have a quick turnaround as they begin the outdoor season next weekend at the Hurricane Invitational.