JACKSONVILLE, Fla. and PHILADELPHIA, Penn. – Sophomore Victoria Gorlova and senior Jake Spotswood top the Atlantic Coast Conference charts finishing first at the East Coast Relays in Jacksonville on Friday, Apr. 28 – Saturday, Apr. 29.
Gorlova won the women's triple jump with an outdoor personal-best distance of 44'5.25" (13.54m), ranked 10th in the NCAA. Spotswood claimed first in the men's pole vault clearing a season-best height of 17'2.75" (5.25m).
As the lights turned out on the track, pole vaulter Julia Fixsen and the team had to decide to stay or go after being there for five hours. The decision to wait it out paid off for Fixsen as she cleared the bar at 14'3.25" (4.35m), winning the event. She ranks second in the ACC and seventh in the nation.
The Hokies had 11 top-10 finishes in the pole vault event among the men's and women's teams. Harrison Rice, Jacob Rice, and Conner McClure each cleared 16'6.75" (5.05m) finishing fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively. Hayley Horvath placed fourth in the women's competition soaring 13'3.50" (4.05m). Journey Gurley finished fifth clearing a height of 12'11.50" (3.95m), Stimmel cleared the same height finishing seventh.
Sprints
Kahleje "KJ" Tillmon, Judson Lincoln IV, Kennedy Harrison, Cole Beck took home the gold medal in the men's 4x100m relay clocking the 13th fastest NCAA time this season 39.19. Beck also clocked a season-best time of 10.14 in the men's 100m ranking 20th in the nation.
Jumps
Victoria Gorlova had a successful weekend not only winning the women's triple jump, but also setting a season-best mark of 19'9.75m" ( 6.04m) in the long jump finishing fifth. Blanco Molualisi placed seventh in the men's triple jump with a personal-best distance of 48'0.50" (14.64m).
High Jumpers Aidan Clark and EJ Bell finished fourth and seventh in the men's high jump event on Friday with Clark leading the team at 6'11.75" (2.13m). Bell's day came to end at 6'8.25" (2.04m).
Penn Relays – Throws
Sara Killinen claimed bronze in the college women's hammer throw championship throwing a distance of 208'0" (63.40m). Freshman Barbora Stejfova placed fifth throwing 198'3" (60.43m).
Freshman thrower Katrin Brzyszkowska had two top-five finishes at the Penn Relays first placing third in the women's discus college event throwing 152'6" (46.49m) on Friday. Brzyszkowska placed fourth in the shot put championship putting 53' 11.25" (16.44m) on Saturday.
Up Next
Virginia Tech's men's and women's distance squads are set to compete at the Virginia High Performance meet on Sunday, April 30 in Charlottesville, Va. starting at 4:10 p.m. for the Hokies.
Virginia Tech's Results
East Coast Relays - Top 15
Friday
Men's Pole Vault
1. Jake Spotswood -17'2.75" (5.25m) *season-best - 1st in ACC
4. Harrison Rice - 16'6.75" (5.05m)
5. Jacob Rice - 16'6.75" (5.05m)
6. Conner McClure - 16'6.75" (5.05m) *personal-best
9. Joseph Badalamenti - 15'7.00" (4.75m)
Women's Pole Vault
1. Julia Fixsen - 14'3.25" (4.35m) *season-best - 7th in NCAA, 2nd in ACC
4. Hayley Horvath - 13'3.50" (4.05m)
5. Journey Gurley - 12'11.50" (3.95m)
7. Kenna Stimmel - 12'11.50" (3.95m)
9. Michal Tocker - 12'5.50" (3.80m)
10. Emily Connor - 11'11.75" (3.65m)
12. Erin Kelleher - 11'11.75" (3.65m)
Men's 200m
8. Kennedy Harrison - 20.80
14. Judson Lincoln IV - 21.08
Women's Long Jump
5. Victoria Gorlova - 19'9.75m" ( 6.04m) *season-best
Men's Long Jump
11. Varun Narayan - (23'4.75") 7.13m
13. EJ Bell - 23'1.25" (7.04m) *personal-best
Men's High Jump
4. Aidan Clark - 6'11.75" (2.13m)
7. EJ Bell - 6'8.25" (2.04m)
Saturday
Women's Triple Jump
1. Victoria Gorlova - 44'5.25" (13.54m) *personal-best - 10th in NCAA, 1st in ACC
Men's 4x100m Relay
1. 39.19 – Kahleje "KJ" Tillmon, Judson Lincoln IV, Kennedy Harrison, Cole Beck - 13th in NCAA
Men's 100m
5. Cole Beck - 10.14 *season-best - 20th in NCAA
Men's Triple Jump
7. Blanco Molualisi - 48'0.50" (14.64m) *personal-best
Penn Relays - Top 10
Thursday
Women's Hammer Throw Championship
3. Sara Killinen - 208'0" (63.40m)
5. Barbora Stejfova - 198'3" (60.43m)
7. Rebecca Mammel - 196'3" (59.82m)
Friday
Women's Discus College
3. Katrin Brzyszkowska - 152'6" (46.49m)
Saturday
Women's Shot Put Championship
4. Katrin Brzyszkowska - 53' 11.25" (16.44m)
Gallery: (4-28-2023) TF: East Coast Relays Day One