Hokie ClubTAMPA, Fla. – Being back in the Sunshine State for the second time in the month of May, the Virginia Tech track and field teams saw four student-athletes punch their tickets to nationals and six qualify for the quarterfinals at the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds at the USF Track and Field Stadium on Thursday.
The men's pole vault got all three athletes through in the morning, as Torben Laidig, Joel Leon Benitez and Deakin Volz each cleared a height of 5.35 meters (17 feet, 6.5 inches). The trio will next compete at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. It will be Leon Benitez's first time competing at NCAAs.
Diego Zarate led the way in the middle distance events, winning his heat and clocking a time of 3 minutes, 45.60 seconds in the 1,500-meter race to qualify for the quarterfinals. Vincent Ciattei also qualified for the quarterfinals after placing second in his heat with a time of 3:46.90.
On the women's side in the 1,500 meters, Rachel Pocratsky turned in a time of 4:17.59 to place third in her heat and advance to the next round, which takes place on Saturday. Katie Kennedy came close to making the cut, finishing 28th overall, just three spots out as the top 24 make it to the quarterfinals. The senior finished her race with a time of 4:21.62.
Bashir Mosavel-Lo, a freshman, edged out Savannah State's Abbas Abbkar by one-hundredth of a second, crossing the finish line in 1:49.72 to place third in his heat to get the automatic qualifier spot in the 800-meter quarterfinals on Friday. Placing second in her heat in the 800, Laurie Barton qualified for the quarterfinals in a time of 2:06.14.
To end the night after weather delays, Sara Freix improved her personal-best time in the 10,000 meters by more than 20 seconds to qualify for NCAAs. The sophomore ran the fifth-fastest time in program history, running around the track in 34:12.33.
"In the 1,500 meters, Vince and Diego strategically just ran perfect, took care of business and put themselves in good positions for Saturday," distance coach Ben Thomas shared. "Also, Rachel had a tumble, luckily called back, and on the second try, executed perfectly as well. She's ready to go. She has an excellent chance of advancing just like those guys.
"I'm super happy for Bashir, to come in as a true freshman and get to the second round, I'm really excited for him and what he can do tomorrow. For him to be at this level, one step away from NCAAs in his first collegiate season is incredible – hopefully, he can go one step further.
"Laurie had a very solid race. She's been having a little trouble with her third 200, but today she looked really good and did what she needed to do to get through. I think she is ready to go for tomorrow. She just missed out last year with placing 16th as a freshman, so hopefully, she'll be ready to get into the top 12 tomorrow. I feel like she is so I'm excited to see what she can do."
"Sara really capped off a huge improvement for her from where she was last year. From not going to ACCs to being fourth at ACCs this year and now qualifying for the national championships is great. She has come a long way and I'm just so proud of her, excited to get to see her race in Eugene.
"We got some momentum going into Friday, kids will be excited from our good performances today. So, hopefully, we can keep it rolling."
Kicking off the day as the first event on the track, Greg Chiles won his heat in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 50.73 to qualify for the quarterfinals on Friday.
"I thought Greg ran a very good, tactical race in the 400 hurdles," sprints/hurdles coach Tim Vaught commented. "He really had a great start the first 200 meters, then settled in and coasted, in the end, to secure first in his heat.
"If it was the finals, I think he could have gone on to set a PR. We both are feeling confident going into the quarterfinals tomorrow."
Friday's action will begin at 8:45 a.m. ET with the men's discus. FloTrack will once again bring fans the live action.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Fri. | Regionals | 8:45 a.m. ET | Live Results | Live Stream
Sat. | Regionals | 8:45 a.m. ET | Live Results | Live Stream