Hokie ClubEUGENE, Ore. - Marek Barta and Thomas Curtin wrapped up competition for the Virginia Tech track & field team with podium finishes to clinch eighth place for the Hokies at the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The pair collected 11 points to put the Hokies in eighth on the final day of men’s competition, with Barta placing third and Curtin taking fourth. The eighth-place team finish is the fourth top-10 finish in program history and first since 2012.
“Finishing in the top-10 was definitely the highlight of the meet,” director of track & field and cross country Dave Cianelli said. “Torben [Laidig] had a good meet on the first day. Starting today with Marek Barta getting third was huge then Tommy [Curtin] running absolutely fantastic. Finishing in the top-10 was our goal and I’m glad we were able to do that.”
Despite a foul on his first attempt, Barta bounced back to lead the first flight and ultimately place third overall. Barta is the first discus all-American in program history.
Barta moved into second on his first fair throw of 57.39 meters (188-3). The sophomore improved to first on his final throw of 58.57 meters (192-2) to lead the first flight.
“Marek [Barta] was in the first flight with some really poor conditions for discus with the swirling wind and some rain,” associate head coach Greg Jack said. “For him to settle down and win that flight, then have over an hour until his first throw in the final.”
Heading into the final, Barta sat in sixth but upped the mark to 60.96 meters (200-0) on his first throw in the final to move into third place overall.
“He composed himself and settled down for the final with improved technique and you see the result,” Jack said.
Curtin rounded out the meet for the Hokies, taking an early lead at the start. The now six-time all-American was in the lead pack throughout the 5,000 meters, maintaining the eighth position with one lap to go.
“It's been an amazing journey for Tommy [Curtin],” head cross country and distance coach Ben Thomas said. “From not winning a high school state title to being a six-time all-American and competing against arguably one of the toughest 5k fields in NCAA history.”
His infamous kick came in handy to improve to the fourth position with a new lifetime best and school record time of 13 minutes, 27.64 seconds. Curtin’s fourth-place finish is the best finish in the 5,000 meters in program history and qualifies him for the Olympic Trials in July.
“It’s such a storybook ending and I can't really ask for more,” Thomas said. “He definitely laid it all out there. He's meant so much to our program. I'm so proud of him and I'm really going to miss him.”