BLACKSBURG – Saturday – With five event wins, multiple top ACC marks, and two school records, the Hokies capped off an already successful first day of the Doc Hale VT Elite Meet with an even more incredible performance.
On the field side of the meet, Rachel Baxter continued her dominance in the pole vault. The senior ACC champion delivered a season best mark of 14' 6.75" (4.44m), extending her lead at the top of the conference. Eszter Bajnok returned to form with a monster 42' 7" (12.98m) triple jump to go fourth in the ACC, and Essence Henderson obliterated the school record shot put with a 55' 9.75" (17.01m) throw.
Not only was Henderson's throw better than the previous school record by 0.31m and better than the second-best ACC mark by a full 1.43 meters, but it was also her first competitive throw since last year's ACC Indoor Championships.
In the track events, the Hokies dazzled with several standout performances. Freshman Cameron Rose earned the first win of what looks to be an exceptional college career, outpacing all 22 other competitors with a blistering 21.15 200m (second in the ACC). The women's 4x400m relay leapt to the top of the conference standings by posting a 3:39.00 mark, the first team to break the 3:40.00 barrier this season.
The highlight of the day, however, was a ridiculous men's mile race. Including graduate student Diego Zarate, who competed unattached, five Hokies crossed the 4-minute mile mark. Zarate set the facility and meet record with a 3:57.52, while the four Hokies following him immediately take the top four spots in the ACC as the only sub-four-minute mile times in the conference.
Bashir Mosavel-Lo: 3:59.00
Ben Nibbelink: 3:59.04
Ben Fleming: 3:59.47
Antonio Lopez Segura: 3:59.60
"The mile today was just incredible with five guys that are part of our program, four in our uniform, going under four minutes," Director of Track and Field Dave Cianelli said. "It just shows that these athletes are getting ready at the right time and really rounding into shape."
These four Hokies shook up the school record book as well, all taking new spots in the top ten mile times in program history: Mosavel-Lo (third), Nibbelink (fourth), Fleming (fifth), and Lopez Segura (eighth).
"This was really an outstanding weekend. It's probably one of the best regular season meets that we've ever had, as far as the quality and depth of the performances," Coach Cianelli said. "With about 3 weeks to go we're really in a good position. We just have to stay healthy and continue to stay focused on the job at hand. If we can get everyone to the championship meet healthy, I think we're going to be really tough."
After the meet concluded, multiple Hokies had made their mark on the national stage. Here are the Hokies who stand in the top ten of their events nationally:
Men's Mile
5. Mosavel-Lo
6. Nibbelink
8. Fleming
10. Lopez Segura
Men's 400m
4. Jacory Patterson
Men's 4x400m Relay
10. Forrest, Sapp, Green, Patterson
Women's 800m
3. Lindsey Butler
Women's Pole Vault
3. Rachel Baxter
Women's Shot Put
5. Essence Henderson
The Hokies return to action next weekend when the squad will travel to Clemson, S.C. for the Tiger Paw Invite. The two-day meet will run Feb. 12-13.Gallery: (2-6-2021) 2021 VIRGINIA TECH ELITE MEET SATURDAY
BLACKSBURG – Friday – On the first day of the Doc Hale Elite Meet, the Hokies decided to update the record books once again. The stars of the show were the sprints group and Jacory Patterson, who posted a blistering 45.83 time in the 400m. His time broke a 15-year-old Rector Field House record, set a new meet record, made him the fastest in the ACC this season and the fourth fastest in the nation – all from his first 400m performance of the season.
"We had a very good day one. Mathew Mitchell ran a personal best and season best in the 60m hurdles, Cameron Rose ran a personal best in the preliminary 60m and ran an even faster personal best in the finals. Not bad for his first 60m race of the season," Associate Head Coach Tim Vaught said. "To close out the night, Jacory Patterson ran his fastest opener of his career breaking a 15-year-old facility and meet record of 45.83. On the women's side Kennedy Dennis ran a season best in the 60m (7.44), she's really coming around. Caitlan Tate had a good race, we just need to work on some technical strategies for her next race."
The distance crew shone brightly as well, as Lindsey Butler continued her stellar start to the season, this time showing off in the 800m. With a personal best time of 2:04.00, Butler set a new meet record and fell just 0.15 seconds short of a new facility record. The sophomore's mark moves her into the top spot in the ACC this season and third in the nation.
Another stand out distance runner on Friday was Sean Stuck, who won the 3000m with a time of 8:15.17, good for 9th in the conference this season. In his first competitive appearance on the indoor track, the freshman showed why he's an athlete to look forward to posting some big numbers.
"The distance runners ran really well today," Head Distance Coach Eric Johannigmeier said. "We had several personal bests in the men's and women's 800m and men's 3000m, and I'm excited to see how the group runs tomorrow."
Day two of the Doc Hale VT Elite Meet presents another opportunity for the Hokies to perform successfully. Action resumes at 11 a.m. for field events and 2 p.m. for track events.Gallery: (2-5-2021) 2021 VIRGINIA TECH ELITE MEET FRIDAY