Seven event titles highlighted the final day of the War Eagle and Duke Invitationals for the Virginia Tech track and field teams.
Tech had a strong start to the day as they swept the opening event of the day in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Fitsum Seyoum placed first with his time of 8 minutes; 54.41 seconds and on the women's side Sarah Edwards won with a time of 10:24.47.
The second event that the Hokies swept was the 1,500 meters as Jack Joyce ran an outdoor personal best of 3:46.28, while Lauren Berman also ran a PR on her way to crossing the finish line with a time of 4:23.49.
The third and final event that the Tech swept was the 800 meters as Bashir Mosavel-Lo won it on the men's side with his time of 1:48.22 and Rachel Pocratsky tallied a time of 2:04.67 to win it on the woman's side.
Jacory Patterson won his second event title of the season, crossing the finish line in the 400-meter dash with a time of 46.09 seconds at the War Eagle Invitational.
"Jacory did what he had to do," Tech sprints coach Tim Vaught said. "The two lanes ahead of were open and it confused him a little about how hard he should get out but he ran a good race."
SPRINTS/HURDLES
The men's 4x100-meter relay team of Joseph Tay, Patterson, Michael Davenport and Cole Beck finished second with a time of 39.68 to best their time from last weekend (39.99) and move to No. 2 in the outdoor record book.
We had a little bit of a miscue with a handoff and they still ran that fast," coach Vaught said. "This team can probably run 39.2 or even 39.1 by the end of the season if they connect on the handoffs.
The women's 4x100 team of Kanajzae Brown, Kennedy Dennis, Nykah Smith and Caitlan Tate placed fourth with their time of 45.34.
Miles Green ran a PR for the second-straight week in the 400 hurdles. The Freshman turned in a time of 51.55 to move to fourth in Tech's all-time record book.
"He was leading the whole race," coach Vaught said. "He ran a perfect race, got to the last hurdle and stutter-stepped awkwardly. If that didn't happen he would have run in the mid or low 50 seconds. He can definitely still get better."
Smith tallied a personal best time of 54.45 seconds in the 400 and in the process moved to seventh all-time in Tech history. She also finished third in the 200 meters after running a time of 23.82.
It was a big PR for her in the 400," coach Vaught said. "She looked really good doing it. She just has to work on some mechanics in the last 20 meters. She's definitely on pace to run 53 seconds this year."
Beck had a great day as he turned in two top-4 performances. The Blacksburg, Virginia native ran 10.39 to place third in the 100 meters and ran 21.08 to finish fourth in the 200.
"Cole had a good day, but he still has to work in the first part of his race," coach Vaught said. "He's a gamer and one thing I told him was that if he can consistently run 10.3 (in the 100 meters), he'll be able to run a low 10.2 or 10.1 by the end of the season."
Brown set a lifetime personal best in the 200-meter dash with her time of 24.06.
"That was a big PR for her," coach Vaught said. "She ran really well."
THROWS
Tyson Jones threw a personal best in the discus for the second-straight week as he threw 48.40 meters (159 feet, 9 inches) to place seventh.
Enid Duut finished third in discus on the women's side with her mark of 47.11 meters (154 feet, 6 inches).
DISTANCE
In the Hokies last event of the day at Duke, Peter Seufer finished fourth in the 5,000 meter as he tallied a time of 13:51.39, which moved him from fourth to third in the school's record book.
In the women's 5,000 there was also movement in the record. Sara Freix's second-place time of 16:09.02 moved her from seventh to No. 6.
Shannon Quin tallied a personal best time 2:08.61 in the 800 meters to earn a fourth-place finish.
Ben Fleming ran personal best time of 9:05.58 to finish second in the 3,000 steeplechase.
In the 1,500 meters Matthias Cannon (3:50.89) finished third, Antonio Lopez Segura (3:51.19) placed fourth, Brian Baker (3:53.36) was seventh and on the women's side Ellie Brush (3:28.25) earned a seventh-place finish.
OUTDOOR PERSONAL BESTS
Men's 3,000 Steeplechase
Ben Fleming (9:05.58)
Will Griffen (9:11.16)
Ben Nibbelink (9:13.44)
Men's 1,500 Meters
Jack Joyce (3:46.79)
Antonio Lopez Segura (3:51.19)
Brian Baker (3:53.36)
Logan Sheppard (3:57.88)
Women's 1,500 Meters
Lauren Berman (4:23.49)
Ellie Brush (4:28.25)
Women's 400 Meters
Nykah Smith (54.45)
Kayla Copeland (59.56)
Men's Discus Throw
Tyson Jones (48.40 meters; 158 feet, 9 inches)
Men's 100 Meters
Joseph Tay (10.94)
Men's 400 Hurdles
Miles Green (51.55)
Hans Gallagher (55.04)
Men's 200 Meters
Tahjere Lewis (23.58)
Women's 200 Meters
Kanajzae Brown (24.06)
Kayla Copeland (25.17)
Women's 800 Metes
Shannon Quinn (2:08.61)
Women's 5,000 Metes
Sara Freix (16:09.02)
Men's 5,000 Metes
Peter Seufer (13:51.39)
Men's High Jump
Sean Murphy (1.90 meters; 6 feet, 2.75 inches)
Men's Shot Put
Sean Murphy (12.15 meters; 39 feet, 10.5 inches)
John Manilli (10.01 meters; 32 feet, 10.25 inches)
(DAY ONE)
Friday was a light day of action for the Virginia Tech track and field teams as only a handful of student-athletes competed on the first day. The triple jump was the only event to feature Hokies at the War Eagle Invitational and due to severe weather in Durham, North Carolina, the first day of the Duke Invitational was canceled early into the meet.
Kajsa Wennberg was the only Hokie able to compete at Duke on Friday before the weather turned too bad for competition. The junior placed fifth in the hammer throw with her mark of 59.59 meters (195 feet, 6 inches).
At the War Eagle Invitational, sophomore Stefanie Aeschlimann finished fifth in the triple jump with her jump of 12.12 meters (39 feet, 9.25 inches).
REMAINING WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Sat. | Duke Invitational | 8:00 a.m. ET | Live Results
Sat. | War Eagle Classic | 12:30 p.m. ET | Live Results
A number of events were postponed until tomorrow at Duke where action will resume tomorrow starting at 8 a.m. The updated schedule of events can be found here. Competition at the War Eagle Invitational will begin at 12:30 p.m. ET.
