BLACKSBURG – SATURDAY – Following Friday's impressive results, the Virginia Tech track and field squads delivered statement performances across the Doc Hale Elite Meet and Camel City Invitational.
"It was an outstanding weekend, both here in Rector and including the performances down in Winston-Salem," Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Dave Cianelli said. "We had a lot of personal bests, and people are gearing up for this last three week push towards our conference meet. We have a couple people we need to keep healthy, and we need to keep everyone ready over the next three weeks, but I feel really good about our chances at ACCs."
In the Elite Meet women's pole vault, Rachel Baxter and Julia Fixsen stamped clearances of 4.48m (14' 8.25") to move into the No. 2 spot in the NCAA this year and No. 1 in the ACC. Baxter cleared each bar flawlessly, only requiring one attempt for each of her six clearances on the day. Following her final clearance, Baxter took three strong attempts at 4.55m (14' 11"), which would have broken her own school record and seen her take the NCAA lead. The 4.48m clearance goes down as a new lifetime best for Fixsen, who won the 2020 SEC indoor pole vault title with Georgia.
At the Camel City Invitational, Tech's distance squad showed why the JDL Fast Track is known as such. Antonio Lopez Segura finished as the top collegian in the men's Elite 3,000m, going 7:49.03 to break the Hokies' school record before the flat track conversion. After converting for the NCAA qualifying lists, Lopez Segura leads the ACC in the 3,000m and ranks No. 2 in the NCAA.
Lindsey Butler led the way among collegiate athletes in the Camel City Elite 800m, finishing in 2:05.03. Her converted time from JDL's flat 200m track tops the NCAA and the ACC this season, as the defending ACC indoor 800m champion eyes a repeat this season.
In the men's edition of the Camel City Elite 800m, Seb Anthony finished with a time of 1:50.00, second among collegians in the event. His converted time ranks at the top of the ACC so far this year.
Over in the throws area of Rector Field House, the Hokies' shot put athletes continued their strong performances this season. Tyson Jones delivered a season best of 18.74m (61' 5.75") to win the event and move into second in the ACC this year. In the women's competition, Essence Henderson took second among collegiate athletes with her throw of 16.85m (55' 3.5"), while Fiona Richards took third with a new personal best of 16.53m (54' 2.75").
Tech vaulters swept the seeded competition as Harrison Rice earned the win on Saturday, finishing as the top collegian with a clearance of 5.16m (16' 11"). Jake Spotswood followed in second with a season best at the same height, finishing behind Rice on attempts.
Hailey Huston Myles took another event win in the triple jump, leaping 12.37m (40' 7") to lead the competition. On the men's side, Chauncey Chambers finished in second place with an indoor personal best of 15.95m (52' 4").
With the ACC Indoor Championships just three weeks away, the Hokies are delivering conference and nation-leading marks at the right time of the season. Up next is a trip to Clemson for the Tiger Paw Invitational for Tech to continue its impressive year.Gallery: (2-5-2022) T&F: 2022 Doc Hale Elite Meet Day 2
Gallery: (2-6-2022) T&F: JDL Camel City Invite
FRIDAY – Virginia Tech track & field entered midseason form in strong fashion during Friday's action at the Doc Hale Elite Meet, earning six event wins and two ACC-leading marks as athletes set several lifetime bests.
Friday night's highlight was provided by Kennedy Harrison, who stormed to the win in the men's 400m. Harrison's first ever collegiate 400m proved to be a good one as he stopped the clock in 46.83 seconds, the fastest time in the ACC and the second fastest in the Virginia Tech record book. Tyreke Sapp followed in second place with a new indoor PR of 47.72 seconds.
In her first collegiate 800m, Barbora Malíková cruised to a victory with a time of 2:05.86. The Czech U20 national record holder's time ranks as the fastest in the ACC so far this season and eighth all-time at Virginia Tech.
Continuing her strong string of performances this season was Victoria Gorlova, who took home the win in the women's long jump with a best mark of 6.08m (19' 11.5"). Her jump set a new indoor PR and moves her into second in the Hokies' record book and fifth in the ACC this year.
Cole Beck's undefeated 60m season continued Friday evening, as he earned another victory in the event with a finals time of 6.67 seconds. Beck's best result this season, his 6.63 performance at the Hokie Invitational, ranks 12th in the NCAA and second in the ACC in 2022.
Rebecca Mammel and Sara Killinen continued their weight throw dominance Friday night, once again finishing in first and second in the event. Mammel set yet another PR, throwing 22.21m (72' 10.5") to earn the win, and Killinen took second with her best mark of 20.86m (68' 5.25").
The Hokies wrapped up Friday's competition with the men's unseeded pole vault, where Jacob Rice finished first by clearing 5.00m (16' 4.75").
Action on Saturday kicks off first in the Camel City Invitational at 10 AM, when members of the distance squad compete at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C. Back home in Rector, the Hokies get started at 11 AM with the women's pole vault.Gallery: (2-4-2022) T&F: 2022 Doc Hale Elite Meet Day 1