BLACKSBURG – In what was another exciting showing from the Virginia Tech track and field teams, the Hokies tallied four event winners and posted several impressive times and marks at the Hokie Invitational held at Rector Field House over the weekend.
In the first attempt of her career in the indoor 400-meter dash, Caitlan Tate recorded a first-place finish and a spot in the record book, as she ran 53.21 seconds for the No. 2 time in school history. Her mark was less than two-tenths of a second off from the school record held by Queen Harrison-Claye (53.06).
"For her to break the school record in the 300 last weekend, then come back this weekend and open in the 400 for the first time and go of 53.21, was amazing," Tech sprints coach Tim Vaught said. "I've seen huge improvements from her every weekend. I knew through the testing and the intrasquad that she was going to open up really good. I just didn't know how good. The sky is the limit for her, and I really think she has an opportunity to be in the finals in the 400 or the 200 at NCAAs this year."
SPRINTS
Patrick Forrest (48:02) placed fourth with the No. 7 time in school history in the men's 400. Miles Green (48.26), Tyreke Sapp (48.41) and Patrick Atwell placed sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively.
In the women's 400, Arlicia Bush crossed the finish line in a time of 54.55 to finish fourth, while Nykah Smith's time of 55.26 saw her finish fifth.
Cole Beck, who competed in the 200-meter dash, came away with a third-place finish, clocking a time of 21.66.
DISTANCE
Eldon Phillips and Dave Whitfield represented the men's distance group on the day for the Hokies. The duo competed in the 800, as Phillips came in sixth with a time of 1 minute, 53.09 seconds, while Whitfield turned in a time of 1:53.75, finishing seventh.
THROWS
In the shot put, Tyson Jones represented the men's team and came in second with a throw of 18.67 meters (61 feet, 3 inches). On the women's side, Essence Henderson finished second with a throw of 15.49 meters (50 feet, 10 inches), while Enid Duut finished eighth with a indoor personal-best mark of 12.81 meters (42 feet, 0.5 inches).
Jumps
In the women's high jump, the newcomer duo of Rosie Cicmanec and JaneAnne Tvedt each leaped 1.68 meters (5 feet, 6 inches), finishing second and sixth, respectively, due to progression.
UP NEXT
The pole vault group heads to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the New Mexico Invitational, as the four remaining event groups take the weekend. The Hokies return to Blacksburg on Friday, Feb. 7 as they play host to the Doc Hale "Elite Meet." Several student-athletes also will head to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to compete in the Camel City Invitational.
PERSONAL BESTS
Men's 60 Hurdles
James Holt (8.98)
Men's Pole Vault
James Holt (3.51 meters; 11 feet, 6.25 inches)
Men's 1,000 Meters
James Holt (3:01.60)
Men's Heptathlon
Jaelyn Demory (5,162 points)
James Holt (4,662 points)
Women's 400 Meters
Caitlan Tate (53.21)
Ariana Rivera (56.86)
Men's 400 Meters
Patrick Forrest (48.02)
Tyreke Sapp (48.41)
Patrick Atwell (48.84)
Women's 200 Meters
Naudia Still (26.44)
Women's Shot Put
Enid Duut (12.81 meters; 42 feet, 0.5 inches)
Men's Pole Vault
Jacob Rice (4.97 meters; 16 feet 3.5 inches)Gallery: (1/25/2020) 2020 HOKIE INVITATIONAL DAY 2
(DAY ONE)
BLACKSBURG – In another impressive display, the Virginia Tech track and field programs had three event winners and multiple impressive times and marks on the opening day of the Hokie Invitational.
Sarah Edwards was the first event winner of the day, as the Bellingham, Massachusetts native ran the 1,000-meter race in a personal-record time of 2 minutes, 44.68 seconds.
Jack Joyce soon followed, winning the 1,000 for the second straight week. The senior used a final burst to pass fellow teammates Diego Zarate (2:22.92) and Bashir Mosavel-Lo (2:23.06) with a new personal-best time of 2:22.87.
After running 34.04 in the 300-meter dash last weekend, newcomer Tyreke Sapp put a stamp on the evening when he posted a time of 33.85 seconds to win his first event title as a Hokie. The time also moved him to No. 3 all-time in Tech's record book.
SPRINTS
In the 60-meter dash finals, Cole Beck tallied the No. 3 time in school history when he ran 6.65 to finish second overall. Donovan Louis, who also made the finals, posted a personal-best time of 6.77 to finish fourth.
In the 300, Patrick Atwell (34.60), Michael Davenport (34.65) and Patrick Forrest (34.88) all posted times inside the top 10, as the trio finished second, third, and fifth, respectively.
In the women's 300, Nykah Smith (38.46), Arlicia Bush (38.87), Kennedy Dennis (39.57) and Ariana Rivera (39.57) tallied impressive times. Dennis also qualified for the 60-meter finals, taking fourth with a time of 7.41.
JUMPS
In her first meet of the season, senior Eszter Bajnok leaped 12.51 meters (41 feet, 0.5 inches) in the triple jump, finishing second.
POLE VAULT
It was another great performance by Rachel Baxter, as the junior finished second in the pole vault with a leap of 4.38 meters (14 feet, 4.5 inches).
THROWS
In his second meet as a Hokie, Alexios Prodanas placed fifth in the weight throw with the No. 10 toss in school history (19.80 meters; 64 feet, 11.5 inches).
MULTI-EVENTS
Following the first day and after four events of the men's heptathlon, Jaelyn Demory sat in second with 2,817 points, while James Holt was in third with 2,778 points.
DISTANCE
In the mile, Sara Freix (4:42.82) and Lauren Berman (4:43.74) both ran personal-best times, placing placed second and third, respectively. On the men's side of the mile, Ben Fleming (4:04.73) finished second, Peter Seufer (4:05.68) was third, and Ben Nibbelink (4:08.93) was sixth.
UP NEXT
The Hokies return for the second day of action at the Hokie Invitational on Saturday. The multi-events begin competition at 9:30 a.m., while the field events begin at noon and running events start at 1:40 p.m.
PERSONAL BESTS
Men's Shot Put
Jaelyn Demory (12.81 meters; 42 feet, 0.5 inches)
James Holt (11.88 meters; 38 feet, 11.75 inches)
Women's Mile
Sara Freix (4:42.82)
Lauren Berman (4:43.74)
Men's Mile
Ben Fleming (4:04.73)
Ben Nibbelink (4:08.93)
Women's 60 Hurdles
Naudia Still (8.89)
Women's 60 Meters
Naudia Still (8:10)
Men's 60 Meters
Cole Beck (6.65)
Donovan Louis (6.77)
Women's 1,000 Meters
Sarah Edwards (2:44.68)
Men's 1,000 Meters
Jack Joyce (2:22.87)
Diego Zarate (2:22.92)
Bashir Mosavel-Lo (2:23.06)
Fitsum Seyoum (2:25.89)
Women's 600 Meters
Catherine Stone (1:35.98)
Allie Zolkiewicz (1:36.86)
Men's 600 Meters
Eldon Phillips (1:20.14)
Women's 300 Meters
Nykah Smith (38.46)
Arlicia Bush (38.87)
Ariana Rivera (39.57)
Men's 300 Meters
Tyreke Sapp (33.85)
Patrick Atwell (34.60)
Miles Green (35.31)
Bilal Nazari (35.49)
Gallery: (1/24/2020) 2020 HOKIE INVITATIONAL DAY 1