BLACKSBURG – On the second day of the VT Challenge, the Hokies closed out the regular season in style. With great performances from the field events and multi-event groups, Virginia Tech's track and field squads are primed and ready for the ACC Indoor Championships.
"I felt like this was a great tune up meet for the people that competed, especially the vaulters, the jumpers, and the multis," Director of Track and Field Dave Cianelli said. "All three had really good weekends and are prepared to do very well next week in the conference meet. I feel really good about going into next week, we just have to keep everyone healthy and focus on what we're trying to do when we go down there."
Freshman Aidan Clark delivered a statement high jump performance, clearing 7' 0.25" (2.14m). Clark's jump marked the first time he'd successfully cleared seven feet, and in the process he claimed the third-best jump in Tech history and the fourth-best in the conference.
"Aidan had an incredible competition," Jumps and Multi-Events Coach Paul Zalewski said. "New PR, first time over seven feet, and he did it without a miss until the seven-foot bar. He was very impressive, and it was a great final tune up for the championship next weekend."
Other standout results from day two of the meet came from the pole vault and multi-event squads. Rachel Baxter and Harrison Rice both won the vaulting events, with Baxter continuing her dominance in the conference by making 14' 6.25" (4.43m). Rice reached a season best mark of 17' 2.75" (5.25m), the second highest clearance in the ACC.
Following Ellie Vest's fantastic 800m performance on Friday, the men multi competitors showed that the whole event group is firing on all cylinders. With athletes earning personal bests across a variety of events, this looks to be a dangerous unit entering the conference meet.
Saturday Multi-Event Performances:
Shot Put
Sean Murphy: 46' 7.25" (14.20m)
Jaelyn Demory: 39' 10" (12.14m)
John Manilli: 34' 3.5" 10.45m)
High Jump
Devin Daye-Schafer: 6' 4" (1.93m)
John Manilli: 5' 10.75" (1.80m)
Jaelyn Demory: 5' 8.75" (1.75m)
"I couldn't have been prouder of the group as a whole," Jumps and Multis Coach Paul Zalewski said. "With Ellie's 800m PR, Sean's personal best in shot by 2' 6", and Devin's big PR in high jump, everyone is really shaping up well for the ACC meet on Thursday."
Next week the Hokies travel to Clemson to compete in the ACC Indoor Championships, with the three-day meet slated to begin Thursday, Feb. 25. Live results will be provided by Flash Results, and the meet will be broadcast on ACCN.
Gallery: (2-20-2021) 2021 TRACK & FIELD VIRGINIA TECH CHALLENGE DAY 2
BLACKSBURG – Friday saw a chance for the Hokies to tune themselves in preparation for the ACC Indoor Championships, and the track and field squad showed at the VT Challenge and the Camel City Invite that they are more than ready for the postseason.
Multi-event athlete Ellie Vest proved herself in the 800m, going 2:12.26 for a new career best. The pentathlete blew past her previous best mark of 2:17.03 and looks primed for a run in the ACC Championships.
"I am so proud of the effort Ellie put in tonight," Jumps Coach Paul Zalewski said. "She has wanted to be in a fast 800m to get ready for the ACC pentathlon, and she took advantage. Dropping nearly five seconds from her PR is incredible. She's ready for conference."
Other highlights at the VT Challenge included a win in the 60m by Kennedy Dennis, who ran a 7.50, and a 200m sweep, as Tyreke Sapp and freshman Makhia Jarrett won both sides of the event. Sapp posted a 21.67 to win the men's side, and Jarrett went 24.39 to win the women's section.
"Very good day one, Kennedy Dennis managed to win the 60m with a few technical issues," Associate Head Coach Tim Vaught said. "Makhia Jarrett had a good day, she won her second collegiate meet in the 200m with her second fastest time of the the season at 24.39. She's really starting to develop into a good 200m sprinter. Tyreke Sapp won his first 200m race of the season with a time of 21.67. I'm really excited to see Tyreke develop in the 200m."
Blacksburg wasn't the only place to see impressive performances from Tech athletes. In Winston-Salem, the Hokies competed in two distance medley relays at the Camel City Invitational. The women's relay won the DMR, crossing the line at 11:11.78, the fifth fastest time in Virginia Tech history. Following a time conversion from the flat track, their time becomes 11:04.68, sixth fastest in the country. The men's side placed second with a 9:38.48, and the converted time of 9:30.73 ranks first in the ACC and fifth nationwide.
Gallery: (2-19-2021) 2021 TRACK & FIELD VIRGINIA TECH CHALLENGE