BLACKSBURG – With the track and field season set to start in two months, the Virginia Tech director of track and field and cross country Dave Cianelli unveiled the 2017 indoor and outdoor schedule on Wednesday afternoon.
“Our schedule is designed to give our national level athletes the opportunity to compete with the best in the nation at specific times throughout the course of the season,” Cianelli said. “Our schedule also includes several meets that will give our developmental student-athletes the chance to compete and show what they can achieve. It comes down to getting our teams prepared for the ACC and NCAA Championships.”
Tech opens its indoor season with the first of four home meets, as the squad plays host to the Virginia Tech Invitational from Jan. 13-14, at Rector Fieldhouse, in Blacksburg. The Hokies’ second meet of the season, the Hokie Invitational, also will take place at home Jan. 19-21.
“Our home meets are always an advantage for our student-athletes and staff,” Cianelli said. “The athletes can stay home, and they are familiar with the facility. It is easier for their friends and family to come and support them, which is always a plus. I always look forward to seeing our student-athletes compete on our home track in front of family and friends.”
After hitting the road for the Penn State National Invitational, the Hokies will return to Blacksburg for the Virginia Tech “Doc Hale” Elite Meet. Select student-athletes also will travel to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for the Camel City Invitational held Feb. 3-4.
Following two dual-meet competitions at Vanderbilt and Liberty, Tech will play host to its final home meet of the indoor season Feb. 17-18 in preparation for the ACC Indoor Championships. The indoor conference championship will take place Feb. 23-25 in South Bend, Indiana, followed by the NCAA Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas, March 9-11.
The outdoor season will begin March 24-25, as the Hokies split their season-opening weekend, sending student-athletes to compete at the Florida State Relays in Tallahassee, Florida, and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Invite in Atlanta, Georgia.
From there, Tech will compete in 16 more events in 10 different states before beginning the postseason. Of note, the outdoor season features competition at the well-known Texas Relays (March 30 – April 1) in Austin, Texas, and the Penn Relays (April 28-29) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“I have high expectations for both our women’s and men’s teams for the 2017 season,” Cianelli said. “I believe that both teams will be in the mix for an ACC Championship.”
Tech will converge on Atlanta, Georgia, as the men’s team looks to defend its title at the 2017 ACC Outdoor Championships from May 12-14.
Two weeks later, the Hokies will compete at the NCAA East Regional Preliminary in Lexington, Kentucky, from May 25-27, as the top Tech performers look to advance to the NCAA Championships, held in Eugene, Oregon, from June 7-10.
To view the complete Tech track and field schedule for the 2017 click HERE.