BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech track and field team wrapped up the summer championship season with five current and former athletes claiming gold at the national level in five countries.
Marcel Lomnicky, who became a Tech Hall of Famer in 2023, claimed gold in hammer throw at the Slovak Championships in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia on Sunday, June 30. Lomnicky finished first with a throw of 233' 0" (71.02m).
At the UK Athletics Championships, Neil Gourley '18 crossed the finish line first in the 1500m in Manchester, England with a time of 3:37.67.
Gourley qualifed for the finals clocking in first in heat one of the prelims with a time of 3:44.33.
He first met the Olypmic qualfiying standard (3:33.50) in July of 2023 finishing third at the London Athletics Meet recording a time of 3:30.60.
Having previosuly met the qualifying standard, Gourley clinched his spot into the Olympics finishing first at the UK Trials.
Katrin Brzyszkowska placed first in shot put with a mark of 54' 1" (16.48m) on Saturday at the Czech Championships in Zlín, Czech Republic.
Freshman Vlad Puchko became the 2024 Belarus National Champion in discus throwing 198' 0" (60.35m) in Minsk, Belarus on June 27th.
In Kingston, Jamaica, Dylan Decambre won the men's 1500m at the Jamacian U20 Championships stopping the clock at 3:59.75 on Thursday.
In Eugene, Ore., former volunteer pole vault coach Bridget Williams won then women's pole vault competition clearing 15' 6.25" (4.73m), Olympic standard.
Williams jumped cleaned through 15' 6.25" in the finals to secure her ticket to Paris representing team USA.
Williams has trained at Virginia Tech since 2020 with assistant coach Bob Phillips. She attended the University of Virginia where she competed in pole vault from 2015-2019.
Assistant coach Rachel Baxter finished 11th in pole vault clearing the bar at 14' 6.25" (4.43m).
Tech alum Isaiah Rogers '20 finished ninth in hammer with a first round mark of 230' 1" (70.13m). Jordan Roach '16 placed eighth in discus throwing 204' 2" (62.24m).
Senior Lindsey Butler advanced to the 1500m semifinals on Friday finishing 21st with a time of 4:12.18. In the prelims, Butler broke her own school record clocking a time of 4:07.15.
Nick Plant placed 24th in the 800m semifinals with a time of 1:49.13. Plant earned an automatic spot into the semifinals finishing fifth in his heat in round one (1:46.88).
Senior Aidan Clark tied for 13th in high jump clearing the bar at 7' 0.25" (2.14m) on his second attempt.
Assistant jumps coach Chauncey Chambers placed 19th in triple jump recording a mark of 49' 11" (15.21m) in the qualifying round.
Neil Gourley (1500m) and Bridget Williams (pole vault) will compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France on July 26 - Aug. 11.
US Olympic Trials
Eugene, Ore.
June 27 - 30
Thursday, June 27
Men’s 800m – Round One
13. Nick Plant – 1:46.88 Q *advance to semifinals
28. Christian Jackson – 1:47.47
Men’s Discus – Qualifying
9. Jordan Roach – 61.66m (202’ 3”) q *advance to semifinals
Men’s High Jump – Qualifying
T13. Aidan Clark – 2.14m (7’ 0.25”)
Women’s 1500m – R1
6. Lindsey Butler – 4:07.15 Q -School Record *advance to semifinals
Friday, June 28
Women’s 100m H – Round One
Queen Harrison Claye - DNS
Women’s Pole Vault - Qualifying
T11. Rachel Baxter - 4.35m (14' 3.25") *advance to finals
T11. Bridget Williams - 4.35m (14' 3.25") *advance to finals
Women’s 1500m – Semifinal
21. Lindsey Butler - 4:12.18
Men's Hammer Throw - Qualifying
9. Isaiah Rogers - 73.33m (240' 7") *advance to finals
Men's Triple Jump - Qualifying
19. Chauncey Chambers - 15.21m (49' 11")
Men's 800m – Semifinals
24. Nick Plant - 1:49.13
Saturday, June 29
Men’s Discus – Final
8. Jordan Roach - 62.24m (204' 2")
Sunday, June 30 – All Finals
Men's Hammer Throw - Final
9. Isaiah Rogers - 70.13m (230' 1")
Women’s Pole Vault - Final
T11. Rachel Baxter - 4.43m (14' 6.25")
1. Bridget William - 4.73m (15' 6.25") *Champion, Olympic Qualifier