December 2, 2007

LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech track and field team got its season underway Saturday at the Liberty Kickoff Invitational, with both pole vaulting squads and three other women competing at the Tolsma Indoor Track Center in Lynchburg, Va.

The Hokies placed five women in the top eight of the women's pole vault, while the men's squad featured three of the top five. Additionally, Ciera Ayangbile captured the women's shot put with a school-record throw, Shell Green tied for second in the women's 60-meter dash, and Gunild Kreb posted a sixth-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles.

In the women's shot put, Ayangbile recorded a distance of 15.61 meters (51' 2.75") to claim top honors in that event, setting a Virginia Tech indoor school record in the process. Her toss, which is an NCAA provisional qualifying mark, beat the previous best of 15.20 (49' 10.5"), set by Paula Allen in 1999. Kreb also competed in the shot put with an eighth-place throw of 12.10 meters (39' 8.5"). Kreb then sped to a sixth-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles in 9.30 seconds.

Ashley Early and Abbey McGrath placed first and second, respectively, in the women's pole vault event, as each jumped a height of 3.75 meters (12' 3.50"). Caitlin Thornley and Jennifer Wade took fourth and fifth, respectively, with each recording a mark of 3.60 meters (11' 9.75"). Diana Sciambi wrapped up the Tech scorers with a eighth-place jump of 3.30 meters (10' 10.00").

On the men's side, Joe Samaniuk claimed second place individually with a height of 4.95 meters (16' 2.75"), while Jared Jodon and Adam Bingaman took third and fifth, respectively, with leaps of 4.80 meters (15' 9.00").

Green earned tied for second in the women's 60-meter dash with a personal-best time of 7.66 seconds, following a top preliminary time of 7.69 seconds.

Additionally, Justin Clickett, who was competing unattached, tossed the shot put 19.18 meters (62' 11.25") to break a facility record at the Tolsma Indoor Track Center.

Full results of the meet can be viewed at http://libertyflames.com/wwwadmin/globals/templates/1912/docs/stats/luitr12.htm

The Virginia Tech track and field teams will not compete again until Jan. 12-13, when they host the Virginia Tech Invitational.