Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech track & field team kicked off the 2016 season at home with several top-5 finishes, including two event champions in the mile and 60-meter hurdles to begin the Virginia Tech Invite.
All-American Thomas Curtin led the Hokie men with a 4:13.65 first place finish in the mile. Darren Barlow crossed the line narrowly behind at 4:13.69 for second. Stuart Robertson took third followed by Andrew Gaiser in fifth to round out the top-five.
With a time of 8.46, Nora McKiver secured the top spot in the 60-meter hurdles while teammate, Shanel Burr, took third with 8.48. On the men’s side, Mackenzie Muldoon made his Hokie debut with a seventh place finish in 8.41. Burr made her debut in the seventh spot of the Virginia Tech track & field record book with her performance while McKiver maintained her sixth position.
Hanna Morton added another top-5 finish to the Hokies’ victories tonight, finishing fourth in the 3,000-meter run in 10:16.66. On the men’s side, Vincent Ciattei and Patrick Joseph clocked in at 8:34.47 and 8:39.97 to finish second and fourth, respectively.
Sophomore Darius Watkins set a new personal best time of 6.82 in the 60-meter dash final after a first place finish in the opening heat. Watkins now ranks fifth all-time in the Tech record books.
Corey Hackett-Greene posted another top-5 finish for Virginia Tech track & field, placing fourth in the 500-meter event with a 1:03.93 time.
Abigail Motley and Jennifer Fleming each recorded top-10 mile finishes, crossing seventh in 5:08.31 and ninth in 5:08.98, respectively. All-American Hanna Green competed unattached in the mile, crossing first with a time of 5:00.65.
Courtney Blanden and Jared Bane each placed first in their respective 300-meter dash sections to conclude day one of the Virginia Tech Invite. Blanden finished ninth overall with a time of 40.06 while Bane placed sixth in 35.43.
The Hokies return to Rector Fieldhouse tomorrow, beginning at 11 a.m. to conclude the Virginia Tech Invite.