BLACKSBURG – After a historic indoor campaign this season, Rachel Baxter has been named USTFCCCA Southeast Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year as postseason awards begin to roll in for the Hokies.
Baxter shattered records and made history indoors, becoming Tech's first ever pole vault national champion. The Orange, Calif. native broke the ACC indoor pole vault record twice, first at ACCs and again at NCAAs with a clearance of 4.62m (15' 1.75"). As the only woman in the nation to clear 15 feet this season, Baxter led the NCAA in pole vault throughout the season, eventually winning her fourth-straight ACC title. No other vaulter, men's or women's has ever won the indoor title four consecutive years, and only four women in ACC history have ever won four consecutive titles in the same event.
The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association divides the NCAA into nine sections, with Tech placed in the Southeast Region. Voting for the regional awards took place following the NCAA Indoor Championships, with Baxter winning Field Athlete of the Year on the women's side. All regional awards winners are automatically placed on the ballot for national awards, scheduled to be announced Monday, March 21.
Baxter and the Hokies kick off their outdoor season next weekend, March 24-26, at three different meets across the country. Tech athletes will contest the Raleigh Relays at N.C. State, the Texas Relays, and the Weems Baskin Invitational at South Carolina as outdoor competition begins.