EUGENE, Ore. – On the first day of women's competition of the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, all three Virginia Tech athletes earned top-five finishes and first team All-America honors.
Opening the day for the Hokies in the women's hammer, Sara Killinen got out to as great a start as one could ask. The sophomore from Lapua, Finland launched the implement 71.02m (233' 0") on her very first throw of the competition, shattering her own school record in the process. Killinen's mark also sets the all-time ACC record, marking the first time any athlete in the conference's history has thrown beyond 71 meters in the women's hammer. By the end of six rounds of competition, Killinen's throw saw her finish in fourth make her a first team All-American.
In Thursday's nightcap, Rachel Baxter and Julia Fixsen proved their status as two of the top pole vaulters in the nation. Baxter finished the competition with a best mark of 4.50m (14' 9") to take fourth place, and Fixsen finished just behind at 4.40m (14' 5.25") in fifth. Both athletes earned first team All-American honors for their incredible performances.
Thursday also marked the final collegiate competition of Baxter's illustrious career, as the graduate student wraps up her time at Virginia Tech. The vaulter out of Orange, Calif. has accomplished feats few have ever dreamed about in the world of pole vaulting. During her time as a Hokie, Baxter earned an NCAA title, four consecutive ACC indoor titles, seven All-American honors, and four top-five NCAA finishes. Baxter will represent Virginia Tech one last time in 2022 when she competes at the USATF Championships. Baxter chases national glory and international qualification to the 2022 World Athletics Championships later this summer.
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Friday marks the final day of men's competition at the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Championships, and the Hokies will have one athlete competing for national glory. Chauncey Chambers takes on the triple jump for Tech at 9:20 PM ET.