BLACKSBURG – For the second-straight day the Hokies saw two members of the Virginia Tech track and field teams etch their names into school history, as sprinters Jacory Patterson and Caitlan Tate set school records in the 400 meters.
Tate started the day holding the second-best time in the indoor 400, but would finish the day holding the school record. The Atlanta, Georgia native shaved almost two-tenths of a second off her previous personal best time (53.21) to pass former Bowerman recipient Queen Harrison-Claye (53.06) with her time of 53.05 seconds to win the event at the Texas Tech Invitational.
Having set the indoor school record last year as a freshman, Patterson broke his own record as he crossed the finish line with a time of 45.75 to best TCU's Derrick Mokaleng and win his third event title of the season. His time in the 400 ranks as the second-best in the country.
SPRINTS
Nykah Smith finished with a season best time of 54.76 in the women's 400, while on the men's side Patrick Forrest crossed the finish line with a time of 48.22 and Patrick Atwell posted a time of 48.59.
The women's 4x400 meter relay group of Arlicia Bush, Kennedy Dennis, Nykah Smith and Caitlan Tate posted a time of 3:36.29 to finish third out of 25 teams.
DISTANCE
Lauren Berman got the day started for the distance group at the Iowa State Classic as the Fairfax, Virginia native won the women's mile with the fifth-fastest time in program history as she posted a time of 4 minutes, 39.81 seconds. Also running in the mile, Lindsey Butler finished with a time 4:47.05 and Grace Boone clocked 4:49.67.
The men's side saw Bashir Mosavel-Lo (4:01.20) and Antonio Lopez Segura (4:03.07) set personal best times in the mile as the duo finished third, seventh, respectively as Ben Fleming clocked a time of 4:04.92, finishing 13th.
In the men's 800 meters Jack Joyce came in ninth with his time of 1:50.37 as Eldon Philips and Thierry Siewe Yanga clocked times of 1:52.32 and 1:52.41.
JUMPS
Competing in the triple jump at the Texas Tech Invitational, Chauncey Chambers used a final leap of 15.45 meters (50 feet, 8.25 inches) to earn a fifth-place finish.
UP NEXT
The Hokies will host their final home meet of regular season next weekend with the Virginia Tech Challenge as several student-athletes head to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to compete at JDL DMR Invitational.
(DAY ONE)
BLACKSBURG – It was an excitement-filled day for the Virginia Tech track and field teams as seven student-athletes recorded times that are among the all-time top-10. Two of the most impressive times came at the Iowa State Classic from distance runners Sara Freix and Peter Seufer, both of whom set new indoor school records in the 5,000 meters.
Getting off to a great start in the women's 5,000 invite, Freix kept a staggering pace to shave almost 15 seconds off previous personal-best time of 16:07.09 to shatter her own school record as she clocked a time 15 minutes, 52.18 seconds to finish fourth in the event.
A close battle in the men's 5,000 invite for Seufer, due to Michigan State's Morgan Beadlescomb, saw the Lynchburg, Virginia native cross the line with a new indoor school record time of 13:36.36. The time ranks fourth nationally and gave Seufer top-10 national time in his second event.
In the men's open 5,000 Fitsum Seyoum finished third with a personal-best time of 14:03.67, which was good enough move him to fifth all-time in program history.
In the women's elite 3,000 meters Sarah Edwards finished second and turned in the programs fourth-fastest time (9:15.07), while Diego Zarate also came in second place as he clocked 7:58.83 to move No. 3 all-time in the event.
THROWS
The throws group wrapped up the final day of the Don Kirby Invitational Thursday as Essence Henderson finished fifth in the women's shot put with her throw of 15.63 meters (51 feet; 5.5 inches). Tyson Jones' throw of 18.26 meters (59 feet, 11 inches) was good enough for a fourth-place finish in the men's shot put.
SPRINTS
In the 200 meters at the Texas Tech Invitational, Cole Beck tied for the fifth-fastest time in program history when he crossed the finish line with a time of 21.26, earning himself a ninth-place finish.
JUMPS
Competing in the women's high jump at the VMI Indoor Classic, Rosie Cicmanec and JaneAnne Tvedt went 1-2 as the duo both recorded marks of 1.65 meters (5 feet, 5 inches).
UP NEXT
Tech returns to action Saturday for the final day of the Iowa State Classic and the Texas Tech Invitational. Action for the distance group in Iowa starts at 1:30 p.m. with the mile, while the sprints and jump groups get started at 1:35 p.m. in Texas with the 400-meter dash.
