BLACKSBURG – Saturday – Field athletes wrapped up the second day of competition at the Virginia Tech Invitational as Hokies took home event wins and big PRs during Saturday's action.
Rachel Baxter showed yet again why she lays claim to the title as best pole vaulter in the ACC, finishing first in the women's competition with a vault of 4.34m (14' 2.75"). Baxter's mark places her at fourth in the NCAA so far this season.
Following yesterday's impressive action in the throws area, Fiona Richards delivered a lifetime best in the shot put with a heave of 16.35m (53' 7.75") to win the event and smash her previous best as a Hokie that stood at 14.58m (47' 10"), a 1.77m improvement. Richards' throw also moves her up into fifth all-time at Virginia Tech.
On the men's side of the shot put competition, Tyson Jones finished second overall with a throw of 18.19m (59' 8.25") to mark an excellent weekend for the throws group.
In the men's high jump competition, sophomores EJ Bell and Aidan Clark kicked off their indoor seasons with strong results. Bell led the way with his third-place finish at a height of 2.10m (6' 10.75") and Clark followed in fourth with a clearance of 2.05m (6' 8.75").
Several athletes continued Friday's trend of newcomers making impressive debuts, including vaulters Julia Fixsen and Conner McClure. In the women's competition, Fixsen finished in sixth place with a clear of 3.94m (12' 11") while McClure took fourth in the men's event by clearing the 4.85m (15' 11") bar.
Up next for the Hokies is a return to Rector Field House as they host the Hokie Invitational next weekend from Jan. 21-22.
BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech's track and field squads kicked off the 2022 indoor season with seven event wins, numerous updates to the record book, and three NCAA top-10 performances on the first day of competition at the Virginia Tech Invitational.
Leading the way as far as top performances go was the trio of Rebecca Mammel, Cole Beck, and Sara Killinen. In her first meet as a Hokie, Mammel delivered a monster weight throw that measured in at 22.15m (72' 8") for the win. Her throw puts her at second in the NCAA this season and was just .18m off the school record that has stood for 17 years.
Just before Mammel registered her biggest throw of the competition, Sara Killinen shattered her previous personal best with a weight throw of 21.13m (71' 2.75") to earn third place. Killinen now ranks just behind Mammel for third all-time at Virginia Tech, and her performance ranks as the sixth best in the NCAA so far this season.
Cole Beck also impressed in his season debut, setting the fastest preliminary and finals time in the men's 60m. Beck took off down the infield straight and notched a time of 6.67 seconds, at the time the third fastest 60m in the NCAA this year. Beck went on to win the finals with a time of 6.70 seconds.
The Hokies got off to a great start earlier in the evening as Seb Anthony overtook the field to win the men's 3,000m with a time of 8:11.79, nearly a 40-second personal best for the transfer from Bury St Edmunds, England.
Next Lindsey Butler led the way in the women's 1,000m with a winning time of 2:43.66, the second-fastest mark in school history. Seven other Hokies followed behind as Tech locked out the top eight spots in the race.
Another transfer impressing in her Hokies debut was Hailey Huston Myles, who registered a 12.82m (42' 0.75") triple jump in the sixth round of the competition. Huston Myles' winning leap put her into second on the Hokies' all-time list.
On the men's side, Chauncey Chambers opened his season well with a 15.76m (51' 8.5") triple jump and finished as the second-best collegiate athlete in the competition.
Several sprinters delivered solid debuts for the Hokies on Friday, with Layla Anderson finishing fifth in the women's 60m, Sam McLendon taking third in the men's 60m hurdles, and KJ Tillmon winning the men's 300m with the joint third fastest time in school history at 33.58 seconds.
Action resumes Saturday morning at 11, with the women's high jump, long jump, and pole vault all kicking off at the same time.
Gallery: (1-15-2022) 2022 Virginia Tech Invitational Day One