BLACKSBURG, Va. – Nine Virginia Tech track and field athletes have been selected to the 2008-09 All-ACC Academic Indoor Track and Field teams, the conference announced on Wednesday.

On the women’s side, six Hokies garnered the academic honor. Juniors Kristi Castlin and Asia Washington, along with senior Shakirra Pinnock, represented the sprints unit for Tech. Castlin finished third in the 60-meter hurdles at the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 14, while Washington qualified for the national meet in the 400-meter dash. All three sprinters ran on the third-place 4x400-meter relay squad at the ACC Indoor Championships.

Senior Natalie Sherbak, junior Erika Schroeder and sophomore Kelly Phillips rounded out the women’s honorees. Sherbak achieved her first All-America accolade with a 10^th-place effort in the mile run at the national meet. Both Schroeder and Phillips put together strong performances at the ACC meet. Schroeder finished fifth in the shot put, while Phillips tied for second in the pole vault to help the squad to a second-place showing.

Three Hokie field athletes earned spots on the men’s academic team. Juniors Matej Muza and Igor Misljenovic both represented the throws unit on the academic squad. Muza, who earned All-ACC academic honors for the third time, capped a strong indoor season with a runner-up effort in the weight throw at the conference meet, while Misljenovic placed fifth in the shot put at the ACC Championships.

Freshman Hasheem Halim rounded out the Hokies on the men’s squad. Halim compiled a stellar rookie campaign, highlighted by the All-ACC, third-place showing in the triple jump at the conference meet.