March 31, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Virginia Tech track and field team turned in a number of standout efforts on Saturday at the University of South Carolina's Weems Baskin Invitational, recording or improving on 13 NCAA East Regional qualifying marks. The Hokies won a total of eight events on the day, and set four new school records.

"We had a heck of day," Virginia Tech Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Dave Cianelli said. "Some of our performances were simply outstanding."

Kristi Castlin and Sherlenia Green each played a role in two of the new Tech records. Castlin won the women's 100m hurdles in 13.38 seconds, a time that ranks among the top 10 in the nation and the top 3 in the East region. Green raced to second-place finish in the women's 400m hurdles in 57.90 seconds, and that time is good for fourth in the nation and second in the East Region. The two then joined forces with Britni Spruill and Patrice Potts in the women's 4x100m relay to better the old school mark by nearly two seconds, recording a third-place 44.29, a time that also ranks among the nation's best this season.

Queen Harrison also had a great showing in each of the hurdle events, running a 14.04 in the 100mH and a 59.04 in the 400mH. Both times rank as the third-best in Tech history, and the 400mH mark qualifies her for the East Regional.

Another sprinting event, the women's 200m dash, saw a pair of Hokies finish in the top two spots to qualify for the regional meet. Potts captured the event with an outdoor personal best time of 23.69 seconds, which goes down as the second-best mark in the Tech record books. Spruill wasn't far behind, taking second place in a time of 23.90 seconds.

As usual, Tech's field athletes had a huge day, as seven Hokies recorded regional qualifying marks. The women's pole vaulters led the way as they secured the top four spots in the event, with each surpassing the qualifying standards. Though Erin Mahony claimed first due to fewer missed attempts, she and Ashley Early tied with a vault of 3.95m (12'11.5") to share the new school record. Abbey McGrath and Caitlin Thornley placed third and fourth, respectively, as each cleared heights of 3.80m (12'6").

Kevin Moore turned in a personal best in the men's javelin, winning the event with a throw of 67.17m (220'4.75"), a mark that stands as the second best in Tech history. In the women's shot put, reigning ACC Performer of the Week Brittany Pryor tossed a first-place distance of 16.51m (54'2.25"). In the men's triple jump, Idikoro Eradiri leaped a first-place length of 15.03m (49'4").

In other highlights, Adam Bingaman won the men's pole vault by leaping a personal best height of 5.15m (16'10.25"), and Asia Washington won the women's 800m in a time of 2:12.93.

Full results of the meet are available at http://uscsports.cstv.com/sports/c-track/stats/2006-2007/results.html.

The Hokies return to action next weekend, when they will split up among three different meets - the Texas Relays, the Duke Invitational, and the Clemson Invitational.