January 27, 2007

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech track and field team split up Friday and Saturday to compete in three different meets, and had success in each one of them.

Three school records were broken at the Penn State National Open, including Kristi Castlin's 8.34 in the 60m hurdles, Asia Washington's 2:09.66 in the 800m, and an effort of 3:39.20 in the women's 4x400m relay.

Both Castlin's mark and the 4x400m relay time were good for NCAA provisional qualifying standards, as was Brittany Pryor's toss of 16.27m (53'4.5") in the shot put at Liberty's On Track Open.

The Hokies have now tallied 14 school records and nine NCAA provisional marks this indoor season.

The women's sprinters/hurdlers enjoyed a successful weekend at Penn State. Castlin's performance in the 60m hurdles was good for fourth place, and it broke the school record she set just a day earlier in the semis. Queen Harrison placed eighth overall in the event with time of 8.63, after recording a personal best of 8.48 in the semis.

The 4x400m relay crew included Sherlenia Green, Patrice Potts, Harrison and Washington, and their second-place finish beat the school record set earlier this year by nearly a full two seconds. Individually, Potts placed third in the 60m dash in 7.47 seconds, and sixth in the 200m dash with a personal best of 23.91 seconds. Washington's new school record in the 800m earned her sixth place at the meet. Green took fifth in the 400m with a mark of 54.80.

Joining the women's sprinters at Penn State were Mike Fitzgerald, who ranked 13^th in the 200m (22.51), and Idikoro Eradiri, who recorded a personal best of 15.37 (50'5.25") in the triple jump to finish as the top collegian.

Pryor led the female throwers at the Liberty meet in Lynchburg, Va. Her first-place throw in the shot put ranks second on Virginia Tech's all-time list, behind current teammate Ciera Ayangbile, who did not compete this weekend. Freshman Erika Schroeder placed third in the shot put with a personal best throw of 14.59m (47'10.5").

In the weight throw, Kristen Callan finished first with a heave of 19.21m (63'0.25"), while Pryor was right behind in second with a toss of 18.45m (60'6.5").

Finally, the Hokie pole vaulters handled the competition at the Niswonger Invitational, which was hosted by East Tennessee State. On the men's side, Adam Bingaman was the top collegian with a personal-best leap of 5.13m (16'10"). Joe Samaniuk and Thorsten Mueller each vaulted 5.02m (16'5.5"), with Samaniuk tying for third and Mueller finishing sixth. Jared Jodon placed seventh with a mark 4.87.

The women placed four athletes in the top five of the event. Abbey McGrath (first), Erin Mahony (second) and Ashley Early (third) each scaled 3.80m (12'5.5"), while Caitlin Thornley recorded a season-high with a fifth-place vault of 3.65m (11'11.75").

The Hokies have a two-week respite before heading back to Penn State with a full squad to compete in the Sykes-Sabok Challenge Cup Feb. 10-11.