BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech track and field takes on two meets this weekend, as 10 schools join the Hokies in Rector Field House for the 15th annual Doc Hale Virginia Tech Elite Meet, and several members of the distance squad travel to Winston-Salem, N.C. to compete in the Camel City Invitational.
Action begins in the Elite Meet at 5 PM with the 800m, men's weight throw, and women's unseeded pole vault. The two-day meet will not be broadcast, however, live results will be provided by Flash Results.
Admission and parking are both free for spectators. For those attending, please read Virginia Tech Athletics' new vaccination announcement and comply with all COVID-19 related policies.
The Hokies will be joined by 10 other programs at Rector Field House this weekend, including five ACC schools (Pitt, Virginia, Duke, Georgia Tech, Clemson), Tennessee, East Carolina, UNC Charlotte, Kentucky, and VCU.
In the 10th annual Camel City Invitational, all Tech's athletes will compete on Saturday, Feb. 5. Unseeded events kick off at 10 AM and the Camel City Elite events are set to begin at 2 PM with the 3,000m. The Camel City Invite is held at JDL Fast Track, a 200-meter flat indoor track that sees fast times consistently at all levels.
The second USTFCCCA rankings of the season were released Monday, Jan. 31 with Virginia Tech ranked No. 17 nationally and No. 6 in the Southeast on the women's side, and RV nationally and No. 4 in the Southeast on the men's side.
Tech Director of Track and Field Dave Cianelli, the reigning ACC Indoor Coach of the Year on the men's side, coaches his 21st season in Blacksburg.
MEET INFORMATION
Fri. | Doc Hale Elite Meet | 5 PM | Live Results | Event Schedule
Sat. | Doc Hale Elite Meet | 11 AM | Live Results | Event Schedule
Sat. | Camel City Invite | 10 AM | Live Results & Event Schedule
ATHLETES TO WATCH
Following her ACC Women's Track Performer of the Week honors for her collegiate debut in the 600m, freshman Barbora Malíková will run her first 800m as a Hokie. Malíková holds the Czech U20 national record in the event, with a personal best of 2:03.14, which would top the ACC if she can reach her PR time.
The men's sprints group looks to continue their impressive performances from their first two meets, with Cole Beck entering the 60m at the Elite Meet with the No. 2 time in the ACC this season. Early-season standouts Kennedy Harrison and Kahleje "KJ" Tillmon will run the 400m with Patrick Forrest and Tyreke Sapp, while Torrence Walker eyes the 200m for the Hokies.
At the Camel City Invitational, distance runners Antonio Lopez Segura and Ben Fleming will both run in the men's Elite 3,000m. Lopez Segura, the defending ACC Indoor champion in the event, eyes the 7:55.87 indoor best he set last year when they go on the JDL Fast Track.
Essence Henderson will compete at home for the first time this season, looking to improve upon her ACC-leading shot put mark she set last weekend at the VMI Winter Relays, winning the event with a throw of 16.94m (55' 7").
Lindsey Butler and Seb Anthony will compete in the Camel City Elite women's and men's 800m respectively. Butler goes in her signature event for the first time this season following impressive performances in the 1,000m and 600m the past two meets. DII runner-up in the 800m, Anthony will debut for the Hokies in the event this Saturday as they take on top collegians and professionals at the JDL Fast Track.
Currently No. 2 in the NCAA in the women's pole vault, Rachel Baxter will aim to stamp an even higher clearance at the Doc Hale Elite Meet. Baxter's season best is 4.42m (14' 6") which she earned at the Hokie Invitational, also making three strong attempts to try and beat her own school record last time out.
LAST TIME OUT
Most Hokies took a well-deserved rest over the final weekend of January, while some athletes traveled to Lexington, Va. for the VMI Winter Relays. Essence Henderson and Alexios Prodanas earned event wins, with Henderson winning the women's shot put with an ACC-leading throw of 16.94m (55' 7"). Prodanas won the men's weight throw with a PR of 21.07m (69' 1.5").
