BLACKSBURG – Following a successful 2021 indoor season, the Virginia Tech track and field squads are set to take on three meets this weekend to open outdoor competition. Hokies will travel to South Carolina, NC State, and Texas to compete in outdoor meets for the first time since 2019, following the cancellation of the 2020 season due to COVID-19.
Virginia Tech finished the 2021 indoor season on a high note, placing 14th on the women's side and 16th on the men's side at the NCAA Indoor National Championships.
This weekend marks a chance for the Hokies to continue their success into outdoor season, with the first USTFCCCA outdoor rankings scheduled to be release Monday, March 29.
Raleigh Relays – Raleigh, N.C. – Distance and Throws – Live Results
Multiple distance runners return to action for the Hokies with outdoor eligibility remaining, notably Sara Freix, Sarah Edwards, and Diego Zarate. The 5,000m run looks to be a thrilling event for both the men and women, with ten total Hokies entered into the race.
Carrington Kirby is scheduled to compete for the first time in 2021, as a full slate of discus, hammer, and shot put gives the throws squad a chance to build some early outdoor momentum.
Texas Relays – Austin, Texas – Pole Vault – Live Results – Stream
Heading down to the University of Texas for a weekend of pole vault action will be Joel Leon Benitez, Harrison Rice, and Jacob Rice. Benitez competes outdoors for the first time since 2018's NCAA Championships, where he earned 8th place with a 17' 10.5" (5.45m) jump. Harrison and Jacob Rice will look to follow up their All-ACC indoor season with a strong outdoor result. The event is scheduled to begin after the women's competition, which begins at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, March 26.
Weems Baskin Invitational – Columbia, S.C. – Sprints and Jumps – Live Results
With a historic indoor season under their belts, Coach Vaught and the sprints squad head down to South Carolina with their sights set on an even better outdoor year. Jacory Patterson finished third at NCAAs in the 400m with a new school record and will take his shot at a full outdoor season.
The multi-event and jumps squads join the sprints team in South Carolina, as Jaelyn Demory, Eszter Bajnok, Rosie Cicmanec, KJ Moore, and others look to start the outdoor season with strong results.
