BLACKSBURG – In the Hokies' final home meet of the season, Tech's distance runners led the way in both the men's 6k and the women's 4k. Declan Rymer and Chase Kappeler earned race wins as the Hokies closed out the regular season on a cool friday afternoon in Blacksburg.
Attached and unattached athletes locked out the top six in the men's race, with freshman Declan Rymer crossing the line in first as an unattached runner. Arnav Tikhe was the first in a Hokies uniform to finish, taking second overall.
On the women's side, Chase Kappeler took the win for Tech with Lauren Petranek following behind her for second. Sarah Leach finished in third as an unattached Hokie, while Amy Herrema and Maxana Grubb placed fourth and fifth respectively.
Tech's last meet this year at Buford Meredith Cross Country Course was also its smallest, with the Hokies competing against only two other teams, Hollins and Southern Virginia. Most athletes took the weekend off to prepare for the NCAA East Regionals.
The regional meet will be hosted by Kentucky on Nov. 12, in Louisville. Both the men's and women's squads will look to advance to the NCAA Championships in Tallahassee.
MEN'S 6K:
1. Declan Rymer (unattached) – 19:08.30
2. Arnav Tikhe – 19:14.70
3. Will Mackenzie – 19:28.50
4. Azaan Dawson (unattached) – 19:30.90
5. David Beck (unattached) – 19:31.50
6. Will Jones (unattached) – 19:34.71
9. Eldon Phillips – 21:23.60
10. David Kennedy (unattached) – 21:25.10
WOMEN'S 4K:
1. Chase Kappeler – 14:20.00
2. Lauren Petranek – 14:33.80
3. Sarah Leach (unattached) – 14:35.21
4. Amy Herrema – 14:47.60
5. Maxana Grubb – 15:41.40
9. Barbora Malíková – 17:26.50
10. Rachel Mudd (unattached) – 17:26.60