BLACKSBURG – After one of the most successful indoor seasons in Virginia Tech track & field history, the Hokies open the new season outdoors this weekend with three meets around the country.
Members of the distance, sprints, and throws groups head down to Raleigh, N.C. to compete in the Raleigh Relays, hosted by N.C. State, from Thursday, March 24 to Saturday, March 26. Athletes in the jumps and multis groups will compete in the Weems Baskin Invitational, hosted by South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. on Friday, March 25 and Saturday, March 26, and pole vaulters Rachel Baxter and Julia Fixsen head to Austin, Texas to compete in the women's elite pole vault competition at the Texas Relays on Friday, March 25.
Across the Hokies' three meets, 52 Tech athletes will compete in 31 events as the outdoor season begins in earnest. During last year's outdoor campaign, the Hokies earned 8 All-American honors and 7 ACC champions at the conference meet.
This outdoor season's first national and regional rankings will be released Monday, March 28 by the USTFCCCA following this weekend's competitions. Tech's women's team finished the indoor season ranked sixth, the highest indoor ranking at the end of indoor competition in team history.
Tech Director of Track and Field Dave Cianelli continues his 21st season at the helm in Blacksburg.
MEET INFORMATION
Raleigh Relays
Thurs. | Raleigh, N.C. | Paul Derr Track | 10:30 AM | Live Results | Schedule
Fri. | Raleigh, N.C. | Paul Derr Track | 10 AM | Live Results | Schedule
Sat. | Raleigh, N.C. | Paul Derr Track | 10 AM | Live Results | Schedule
Weems Baskin Invitational
Fri. | Columbia, S.C. | Weems Baskin Track | 9 AM | Live Results | Schedule
Sat. | Columbia, S.C. | Weems Baskin Track | 9 AM | Live Results | Schedule
Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays
Fri. | Austin, Texas | Mike A. Myers Stadium | 1 PM | Live Results | Schedule
ATHLETES TO WATCH
With the return to outdoor 400m tracks, the Hokies will contest several events not held indoors. Cole Beck will make his 100m season debut in Raleigh, and the sprints group will run both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. Distance runners led by Seb Anthony will run the 1500m instead of the mile outdoors, as throwers Rebecca Mammel and Sara Killinen change from the weight throw to the hammer throw.
In one of the most anticipated pole vault competitions every outdoor season, the elite pole vault competition features some incredible entries. Rachel Baxter and Julia Fixsen will represent the Hokies as the best vaulters in the country go head to head, including five athletes from the NCAA Indoor Championships, Volunteer Assistant Coach Bridget Williams, who finished third at the USATF Indoor Championships a few weeks ago, and Jenn Suhr, Olympic and world champion and the indoor world record holder.
BROADCAST LINKS
Texas Relays | Longhorn Network
Raleigh Relays | Thursday | Friday | Saturday
Weems Baskin Invitational | No Broadcast