2/3-2/4 College Meets Weekend Summary

Three Victories Mark Track and Field's Day at Carolina Invitational


Men's Distance Medley Relay Qualifies for IC4As in Winning Performance
William & Mary Press Release

02/04/06 10:30PM

CHAPEL HILL, NC - William and Mary's track and field teams sent elements of the distance corps down to North Carolina today, and came away big, with three victories and an IC4A qualification to show for their efforts.

The men's distance medley team won their race by almost a full 30 seconds, easily clearing the IC4A standard to cross the finish in 10:14.01. Senior Matt Wolak (Richmond, VA) just missed his second IC4A nod, running 4:14.63 to win the mile race, only 23 hundredths of a second behind the qualifying standard. Last weekend he made the Eastern Championships in the 800m, along with junior Matt Warco (McMurray, PA), who was third in today's mile with a time of 4:18.63.

Sophomore Ryan Jones (Harrisburg, PA) set a personal record in the 800m, taking second in 1:55.16. Also in the personal record business on this day was sophomore Karl Lang (Oak Hill, VA), who ran 11 seconds under his previous best to take third in the 3,000m run in 8:39.84.

On the women's side, freshman Lynn Morelli (Philadelphia, PA) won the 3,000m race, timing 10:09.03 to lead teammate Julia Cathcart (Starkville, MS), who picked up second with a time of 10:11.34. Junior Meghan Bishop (Blue Bell, PA) was less than two seconds behind the ECAC standard in the mile, running 5:03.06. Senior Lydia Malley (Arlington, VA) was the lone Tribe representative in the 800m, taking sixth in 2:16.74.

The indoor season returns the College to Chapel Hill next Friday for the Carolina Classic.

Track and Field Teams Come Up Big On Day Two at CNU


Aaron Mitchell Qualifies for IC4As, Benabdallah Breaks School Record
William & Mary Press Release

02/04/06 10:27PM

NEWPORT NEWS, VA - The William and Mary track teams turned in the best single day of this young season on Saturday, winning four events and setting a new school record on the final day of the Vince Brown Invitational at Christopher Newport.

In the 60m dash, senior Justin Benabdallah (Natick, MA) took second in the finals heat, only two hundredths of a second off the winning pace in 7.14. The performance, a full tenth of a second better than his qualifying time, gives him the W&M record in that event. Classmate Aaron Mitchell (Buffalo, NY), throwing in competition for the first time in a year, won the shot put by a considerable margin, and qualified for the IC4A championship with his toss of 50'-10.75".

Freshman Harry Miller (Portland, OR) won his collegiate track debut, timing 8:46.77 in the 3,000m run to lead a Tribe newcomer sweep of the top three spots, as he was followed by sophomore transfer Dan MacKay (Whitinsville, MA) and freshman Drew Midland (Virginia Beach, VA). Also chipping in for the freshman class was jumper Cam Shriver (Oxford, OH), who cleared 6'-2" to take third in the high jump.

On the women's side, senior Erica Johnson (St. Stephen's Church, VA) won the finals of the 60m dash with a time of 7.83, just .02 seconds off her own school record. It was the first time a Tribe athlete has won a sprint final at CNU in school history. The College's 4x400m relay also won on Saturday in a time of 4:06.74, with Johnson running the anchor leg after juniors Michelle Wolf (Hummelstown, PA), Kathleen Woody (Herndon, VA), and Hillary Schwab (Richmond, VA).

Senior Melle Patrick (Perth, Australia) took second in the 3,000m with 10:33.81, and Adeola Abisogun (Herndon, VA) took fourth in the 400m dash, running 1:02.19. Junior Kate Willever (Pennington, NJ) took fourth as well, this time in the mile. In the 60m hurdles finals, Bonnie Meekins (Herndon, VA) ran 9.57 for fourth and Brenna Blevins (Pulaski, VA) was ninth in 9.87. Senior Sarah McHale (Winchester, VA) was fifth in her first triple jump showing of the season, leaping 32'-11", and junior Jen Showker (Harrisonburg, VA) was fifth in shot put, throwing 41'-0.5".

The quest for IC4A berths continues next Friday at the Carolina Classic in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Tribe Performs Well on Day One at Christopher Newport


Three Athletes Qualify Into Finals of Sprints and Hurdles
William & Mary Press Release

02/04/06 2:58PM

NEWPORT NEWS, VA - William and Mary student-athletes continued to make this indoor season one of the best in recent memory yesterday at Christopher Newport's Vince Brown Invitational, with two sprinters and a hurdler qualifying into today's finals and numerous season and career-best performances being recorded.

In the women's 60m dash, senior record-holder Erica Johnson (St. Stephen's Church, VA) ran 7.94 for third-place in the preliminaries and a spot in the finals. After never having an athlete make the sprint finals at a CNU event, Johnson has now accomplished the feat for the College in the last two meets. Junior Hillary Schwab (Richmond, VA) just missed making the finals as well, running seventh with a time of 8.39. Brenna Blevins (Pulaski, VA) made the semi-finals in the 60m hurdles, placing eighth with a personal-best time of 9.82. Blevins also took third in the high jump, clearing a height of 5'-0.25".

Sophomore Nicole Bost (Mechanicsville, VA) soared past her previous best in the pole vault by 11 inches, clearing 11'-1" for runner-up honors and moved into third-place all-time at William and Mary. Fellow newcomer Abby Lemon (Lynchburg, VA) also continued to climb the school record books, throwing 39"-5" in the 20-lbs weight to taking eighth in the standings and eighth all-time at the College. Junior Bonnie Meekins (Herndon, VA) took second in the long jump with a distance of 17'-0.75", and senior Sarah McHale (Winchester, VA) was fifth with a jump of 15'-11".

On the men's side, Justin Benabdallah (Natick, MA) earned another shot at owning the school record in the 60m dash outright, qualifying into the finals with a fourth-place showing and a time of 7.24. Last weekend, he tied Stephen Cason by running 7.16 twice at George Mason. Justin Zamorski (Virginia Beach, VA) took second in the pole vault with a personal-best showing of 14". Senior Nathan Chubb (Doylestown, PA) took fifth with a vault of 13'-6".

The Vince Brown Invitational finishes today with the finals of the sprints, more throwing events, and the middle and long-distance runs.


Cavaliers Win Titles at New Balance Collegiate Invitational


Emily Harrison runs a provisional mark in 5K; four Cavaliers take home gold
UVA Press Release

Feb. 4, 2006

Virginia\' Emily Harrison led a strong contingent of Cavaliers at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational meet held today at the Armory in New York City, running a 16:43.20, an NCAA Provisional mark and moving her into the top-five all-time at Virginia. Harrison finished seventh in the meet but her time is the fastest for a Virginia runner indoors since Ellen Dwyer\'s 16:39 in 2003 and she now holds the #5 spot all-time in UVa history. Four Cavaliers, including Danielle Light (800m), Tomika Ferguson (LJ), Rachel Marks (HJ), and David Sullivan (PV) each won their respective events by hitting season-best marks.

Harrison was not the only Virginia distance runner to move into the top-five all time in Cavalier history as Will Christian and Andrew Dumm both moved into the rankings in the 5K. Christian ran a 14:29.04 and Dumm finished just behind him in a personal-best 14:29.45. They now rank fourth and fifth all-time in Virginia history and in addition, both posted a time faster than the ACC leader as of last week\'s meets. Harrison\'s time is also better than the conference leader as of last week\'s meets. Both Jan Foerster and Soeren Lindner also ran faster than the best time run by an ACC athlete in 2006 in the 3K, with Lindner running an 8:14 and Foerster posting an 8:18.00. Lindner\'s 8:14 moves him into the #5 position all-time in Virginia history and both men hit seasonal-best marks in the meet. Andrew Jesien and Kevin McHale also broke into the top-10 in the ACC in the mile, running a 4:12.88 and 4:12.92, respectively, to take fifth and sixth overall. Laura Hodges and Taylor Smith also both ran personal best marks in the 5K, with Hodges running a 17:18.43 and Smith running 14:50.04.

Light\'s 800m time was not only a personal best for her but also moves her into the top-three of the ACC for the season. She finished just ahead of teammate Sara Casscells, who ran a 2:15.98 and finished seventh overall. On the men\'s side, Jordan Orr ran a 1:53.85 to finish third; his time also ranks in the top-three in the ACC this season.

Ferguson led a strong Virginia presence in the long jump with her 6.09m as Rachel Marks finished seventh with a jump of 19\'0\", her best mark of the season. Both Ferguson and Marks moved into the ACC top-10 with their performances over the weekend; as of last week only four conference athletes had cleared 19 feet. Marks also improved her mark in the ACC in the high jump by two inches with her victory in New York City; her leap of 5\' 7\" would place her third in the current rankings.

The Cavaliers also fared well in the sprints, as Kellen Blassingame ran a season-best time in the 400 with his 47.69. Janne\'a Bridgeford tied her season-best performance with a 7.61 in the 60m dash, while Lauren Echko had a season-best performance in the hurdles with an 8.77 mark. Ashley Gore took second overall in the 500m dash with her 1:13.73.

The men\'s distance medley team ran their best time of the year with a 9:45.11, good enough for third at the meet. As of last week, no ACC team had broken ten minutes in the event in 2006. David Sullivan, the school-record holder in the pole vault, jumped over 17 feet for the first time this season to win the event and became just the third vaulter in the ACC in 2006 to clear the height. Billie-Jo Grant finished eighth overall in the shot put, throwing a 47\' 11.25\" while Kathryn Pettine finished seventh in the polve vault with her jump of 10\' 10\".

Full results posted below: WOMEN: 60m: Bridgeford, 7.61; Talia Wise, 7.83; Ferguson, 7.87; 200m: Wise, 24.66; 400m: Erin Crawford, 57.04; Tiffany Roberts, 58.74; 500m: Gore, 1:13.73, 2nd; 800m: Light, 2:12.72, 1st; Casscells, 2:15.98, 7th; 3000m: Lauretta Dezubay, 10:05.63; 5000m: Harrison,. 16:43.20, 7th;NCAA Prov; Laura Hodges 17:18.43; 60m Hurdles: Echko, 8.77; Jackie Bailey, 9.05; SP: Grant, 14.61m, 8th; HJ: Marks, 1.70m, 1st; LJ: Ferguson, 6.09m, 1st; Marks, 5.79m, 7th; Wise, 5.29m; TJ: Ferguson, 12.33m, 6th; PV: Pettine, 3.30m, 7th; 1600m Relay: 3:45.41, 3rd.

MEN: 60m: Reuben Jones 6.98; Tyler Hendry, 7.03; 200m: Jones, 22.96; Hendry, 23.08; 400m: Blassingame, 47.69; 800m: Orr, 1:53.85, 3rd; Michael Hagos, 1:55.84; Mile: Jesien, 4:12.88; McHale, 4:12.92, 6th; 3000m: Lindner, 8:14; Foerster, 8:18.00, 6th; 5000m: Christian, 14:29.04, 6th; Dumm, 14:29.45, 7th; Smith, 14:50.04; DMR: 9:45.11, 3rd; 60m Hurdles: Azeke, 8.37; PV: Sullivan, 5.20m, 1st; LJ: Devin Canaday, 6.90m; Azeke, 6.25m;


Matthews and Ahoure Set Personal Bests at the Armory


Quentin Matthews records best high jump of career; Murielle Ahoure sets personal best in 200m
GMU Press Release

Feb. 4, 2006

NEW YORK - Senior Quentin Matthews and freshman Murielle Ahoure both set new personal standards during the second and final day of competition at the Sixth Annual New Balance Collegiate Invitational, held at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York City.

Matthews finished tied for third in the high jump with a mark of 2.12 meters, smashing his previous career high of 2.10 meters. His best mark this season was 2.06 meters, set at the Father Diamond Invitational on Jan. 7.

Ahoure\'s personal best came in the 200-meter dash. The freshman qualified for the ECAC Championships by finishing the race in 24.99 seconds, easily beating her previous high of 25.40 seconds in the event.

Freshman Ryann Hendricks and senior Ashley Ackerley also performed well at the Armory. Hendricks finished ninth in the triple jump with a leap of 11.72 meters, the second best mark of her career. She jumped 11.82 meters at the Virginia Tech Invitational on Jan. 13. Ackerley finished in 10th place in the weight throw with a toss of 15.13 meters.

The women\'s 4x200 meter relay team of Murielle Ahoure, Misti Turner, Ryann Hendricks and Brittanie Williams placed second in the event with a time of 1:41.62, second only to the University of Pittsburgh\'s team of Shantea Calhoun, Shanea Calhoun, Raquel Bender and Julianna Reed, who finished in 1:39.83.

The men\'s 4x400 meter relay team of Mutsa Nyakabau, Andres Maldonado, Lennarz MacGregor and Javan Corniffe posted their best time of the season, finishing in 3:23.23.

Track And Field Programs Succeed At Liberty Record Bash


Liberty University Press Release

February 4, 2006 · Lynchburg, Va.

The Liberty University track and field programs finished the Liberty Record Bash with 25 Top 3 finishers, including 12 individual and team event winners, Saturday afternoon, at the Tolsma Indoor Tthrack Center.

The Liberty Record Bash, which is the second of three-straight home meets for the Flames, featured numerous in-state track programs, including Richmond, Virginia, Virginia Tech and VCU, along with Big South competitors Radford and UNC Asheville.

On the women's side of the one-day event, Liberty's event winners included Arlene Zelinskus, who won the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.75, Kena Butts, who won the high jump with a height of 1.78m and Charlene Hibbert, who won the long jump with a distance of 5.72m.

Liberty dominated both the men's and women's 5000m races as the Lady Flames concluded the race with first, second and fourth place finishers, while the Flames claimed the top three spots in the men's event.

Danielle Jordan finished first in the women's 5000m (18:14.12), while Piper Newby finished second (18:33.59). Jarvis Jelen claimed the victory in the men's 5000m (14:54.05), while Evan Falat (15:24.10) and Drew Ponder (15:35.39) finished second and third, respectively, in the event.

Individually on the men's side of the meet, Ravanno Ferguson placed first in the 200m (22.54) and the 400m (49.33), while Matt Parker won the 60m hurdles (8.61) and Eric Lundy claimed victory in the men's triple jump (14.19m).

Liberty won three out of the four relay events with the women's team posting winning times of 4:02.20 in the 4x400m (Tra' Screen, Charlene Hibbert, Mynique Robinson and Kena Butts) and 9:26.20 in the 4x800m (Ashley Osborne, Chelsey Swanson, Rebekah Ricksecker and Jaime Watson), while the men's 4x400m team (Ravanno Ferguson, Javan Carter, Phil Leineweber and Brandon Hoskins) claimed victory with a time of 3:21.54.

The Flames will host their final indoor home meet of the season and their final tune-up before the Big South Indoor Championships on February 18 in the Liberty Last Chance meet which is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in the Tolsma Indoor Track Center.

Highlanders Place Eleven In Top-Five at Liberty Record Bash


Radford University Press Release

February 5, 2006

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Radford's men's and women's track and field teams competed at the Liberty Record Bash on Saturday. RU proved strong in competition with eleven Highlanders placing in the top five in their respective events.

Senior Jarrell Warthen (Richmond, Va.) placed second in the 400 meter dash with a time of 49.84. In the same event, sophomore Wayne Gore (Herndon, Va.) took third with a time of 49.94 and Jordan Wynder (Yorktown, Va.) took fifth with a time of 50.69.

Freshman Shemelia Brandon (Alton, Va.) ran a time of 7.89 in the 60 meter dash to place sixth in the event and freshman Kelly Keener (Midlothian, Va.) took third in the 400 meter dash with a time of 59.34. Sophomore Alisha Bryant (Reston, Va.) and senior Te'Keye Holloway (Newport News, Va.) placed fifth and sixth respectively in the long jump with distances of 17'06.00" (5.37m) and 17'04.00" (5.31m).

In the 200 meter dash, freshman Jovan Coker (Mechanicsville, Va.) placed fifth with a time of 23.14. Senior Eric Joyce (Montpelier, Va.) ran a time of 1:58.60 in the 800 meter run to land third. In the same event, sophomore Sean Bossman (Yorktown, Va.) took fifth with a time of 1:59.14. Sophomore Joel Hanlon (Winchester, Va.) ran the 5000 meters in 15:44.34 to place fifth in the event. Freshman Nic Moore (Bassett, Va.) jumped to take fourth in the high jump going a distance of 6'03.00" (1.93m) and in the weight throw, freshman Timothy Morse (Northfield, Mass.) placed fifth with a distance of 49'08.00" (15.20m).


MOSTRAG AND WYSS LEAD MEN\'S TRACK IN BUSY WEEKEND


VCU Press Release

2-4-06

The Virginia Commonwealth University men\'s track and field team sent participants to compete at the Armory in the New Balance Collegiate Invitational in New York, N.Y. and the Liberty Record Bash in Lynchburg, Va. this weekend. The New Balance Invitational, which features many of the nation\'s top track and field teams, was held on Friday and Saturday while the Liberty Record Bash was Saturday only.

Junior Mariusz Mostrag (Krajnik, Poland/Z.S. NA. 3 in Krajnik) garnered an impressive third-place finish in the 1000m run at the Armory with a time of 2:25.52. Junior Cary Chaffee (Richmond, Va./Hermitage) posted a time of 2:29.52 in the same event to finish 13th. The Rams placed sixth out of 22 teams in the distance medley relay with a time of 9:59.09, crossing the line just seconds behind perennial powerhouse Louisiana State University.

Meanwhile in Lynchburg, sophomore Jay Wyss (Richmond, Va./J.R. Tucker) claimed fourth-place in the mile run with a time of 4:19.60. VCU newcomer and import from Ecuador, Christian Matute, grabbed a sixth-place finish in the 800m run with a time of 1:59.33.

In the pole vault, sophomore Matthew Sandridge (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) clipped a height of 14\'5\" to finish 4th.

The Rams return to action February 17-18 when they travel to Blacksburg to compete in the Virginia Tech Invitational.
The Highlanders have a week off before competing at the Virginia Tech Challenge on Feb. 17th in Blacksburg, Va.

VMI Track and Field Team Earns Eleven First-Place Finishes at Indoor Winter Relays


Women\'s team takes home six wins; West breaks school record in 55m hurdles
VMI Press Release

LEXINGTON, Va. -- The VMI track and field team concluded its annual Indoor Winter Relays on Saturday with six first-place finishes giving team 11 overall for the two-day event at the Pit in Cormack Field House. The men\'s and women\'s teams combined for 44 seasonal & lifetime best performances, and sophomore Ashley West broke her own school record in the 55m hurdles with her time of 8.43.

West (Miami, Fl./Northwestern) continues her impressive second season as a Keydet. Today, West broke the school record in the 55m hurdles with a time of 8.43. She had set the previous record last season at the Virginia Tech Invite, at 8.59.

Ketra Alexander (Miami, Fl./Northwestern) had a similarly impressive performance this weekend by winning both women\'s throws events, the weight throw and the shot put. On Saturday, Alexander had her best outing of the year in the shot put, winning the event with a throw of 37\' 9\".

Shelly Mackall (Baltimore, Md./Poly) also had a good day at the Pit, blazing to a 55m dash win with a time of 7.33 to beat out Judy Johnson of Kings College by .04 seconds. Mackall\'s teammate, Ania Najda (Olsztyn, Poland/Common Europe V), also took home first place today in the 800m with a final time of 2:24:09.

Senior Garrett Brickner (Fairfax, Va./Lake Braddock), competing unattached, continued his quest towards the US National Indoor Championships in the high jump by winning with a jump of 2.05m. The championships require a jump of 2.15m to qualify. Fellow senior jumper Jeff Bennett (Danville, Va./GW-Danville) followed closely behind Brickner in fourth place with a jump of 1.90m to finish fourth.

In the men\'s one-mile run, distance runner Graham Forbes (Richmond, Va./Collegiate School) beat out his 15 opponents in the race to capture first place, finishing at 4:33.57.

In the men\'s field events, sophomore Tim Beckley (Carroll Valley, Pa./Fairfield) had a solid all-around performance in the throws. On Friday, Beckley finished second in the weight throw competition, with a throw of 12.92m (42\' 5\"). He followed that with a third place finish in the shot put on Saturday by throwing 12.09m (39\' 8\").

The Keydet freshman also continued to impress head coach Mike Bozeman. Standout Taili Evans (Stafford, Va./Brooke Point) won the triple jump at 44\' 2\" and took second place in the long jump with an effort of 21\' 5-1/2\". With an equal mark in the long jump, fellow freshman Joey Robinson (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg) tied Evans for second place. Robinson was also impressive in the 55m hurdles, finishing second with a time of 7.87 while also finishing third in the triple jump at 42\' 10.75\".

The Keydets have next weekend off to rest and will resume action on Friday, February 17th at the Virginia Tech Invite at Rector Field House in Blacksburg, Va.


VMI Top-Five Finishes:

1. Mackall, Shelly - 7.33 (Women 55 Meter Dash)
1. Najda, Ania - 2:24.09 (Women 800 Meter Dash)
1. West, Ashley - 8.43 (Women 55 Meter Hurdles)
1. Va. Military Institute \'A\' - 10:19.30 (Women 4x800 Meter Relay)
1. Alexander, Ketra - 48-01.25/14.66m (Women Weight Throw)
1. Alexander, Ketra - 37-09.00/11.50m (Women Shot Put)
1. Sullivan, Kevin - 9:20.36 (Men 3000 Meter Run)
1. Evans, Tali - 44-02.00 (Men Triple Jump)
1. Forbes, Graham - 4:33.57 (one-mile run)
1. Va. Military - 3:27.42 (Men 4x400 Meter Relay)
1. Brickner, Garrett (Unattached) - 2.05m (Men High Jump)

2. Stafford, Kelsey - 5:36.92 (Women 1 Mile Run)
2. Ezekwe, Chi Chi - 43-05.00 (Men Triple Jump)
2. Va. Military Institute \'B\' - 8:24.76 (Men 4x800 Meter Relay)
2. Beckley, Tim - 42-05.00/12.92m (Men Weight Throw)
2. Robinson, Joey - 8.07q (Men 55 Meter Hurdles)
2. Va. Military (B) - 8:24.76 (Men 4x800 Meter Relay)
2. Tucker, Tyler - 13-03.50 (Men Pole Vault)
2. Evans, Tali - 21-05.50 (Men Long Jump)
2. Robinson, Joey - 21-05.50 (Men Long Jump)

3. Resetar, Kathleen - 11:43.43 (Women 3000 Meter Run)
3. Va. Military Institute \'A\' - 8:26.69 (Men 4x800 Meter Relay)
3. Robinson, Joey - 42-10.75 (Men Triple Jump)
3. Gede, Nathan - 40-00.00/12.19m (Men Weight Throw)
3. Houck, Cory - 2:02.22 (Men 800 Meter Dash)
3. Va. Military (A) - 8:26.69 (Men 4x800 Meter Relay)
3. Behney, Derek - 9-00.25 (Men Pole Vault)
3. Taylor, Keith - 9-00.25 (Men Pole Vault)
3. Beckley, Tim - 39-08.00 (Men Shot Put)

4. Able, Kurt - 2:02.50 (Men 800 Meter Dash)
4. Welch, Brian - 9:44.67 (Men 3000 Meter Run)
4. Sullivan, Kevin - 4:41.46 (one-mile run)
4. Bennett, Jeff - J1.90m (Men High Jump)

5. Sellers, Shannon - 32.14 (Women 200 Meter Dash)
5. Gore, Andrew - 37-09.50/11.51m (Men Weight Throw)
5. Sellers, Shannon - 32.14 (Women 200 Meter Dash)
5. Franck, Roxanne - 2:33.33 (Women 800 Meter Dash)
5. Gilliland, Chris - 6.75 (Men 55 Meter Dash)
5. Burden, Zohn - 20-06.00 (Men Long Jump)


Tech Shines at Liberty Record Bash


Price and Renninger set personal bests
Virginia Tech Press Release

February 5, 2006

LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech track and field team competed well at the Liberty Record Bash, with two student-athletes setting personal-best times while others set season-best times.

In the 60m finals, Jordan Price set a personal-best time in his fifth-place finish. Price recorded a time of 7.07. Just behind him was Matt Renninger, who also set a personal-best time in the event. Renninger finished sixth with a time of 7.09. Alex Reid was 22nd after crossing the line in 7.36.

Reid was just off his personal-best time in the 60m hurdles. He finished second after posting a time of 8.68. Reid\'s personal best in the event is 8.60.

Kendall Cones placed 16th in the 800m with a time of 2:02.28. Price garnered a time of 2:02.90, finishing 21st.

In the mile, Bryan McVey recorded a season-best time of 4:28.17, placing 15th. Christian Barlow also set a season-best time after crossing the finish line in 4:31.45 in his 21st-place effort. Chris Padilla was 30th, running the event in 4:45.77.

The team returns to action on Feb. 10-11 in State College, Pa., at the Penn State Invitational.

Ayangbile Records Fourth-Best Shot Put At Tech


Sophomore has personal-best throw
Virginia Tech Press Release

February 4, 2006

LINCOLN, Neb. - Virginia Tech sophomore Ciera Ayangbile recorded the fourth-best effort in school history in the shot put Saturday afternoon at the Husker Invitational.

Ayangbile, a native of Fulton, Ill., finished eighth in the event with a toss of 14.45m (47\'5.00\").

Administrative assistant and volunteer throws coach Cleopatra Borel-Brown set a Bob Devaney facility record in her first-place effort of 18.76m (61\'6.75\") in the shot put. Borel-Brown competed unattached, breaking the previous facility record held by Tressa Thompson in 1999. Thompson, who also competed unattached, recorded a mark of 18.61m in her throw.

Other members of the Virginia Tech track and field team are competing at the Liberty Record Bash all day Saturday. The track and field team will compete at the Penn State Invitational Feb. 10-11 in State College, Pa.

Burns Wins The Weight Throw At Husker Invitational


Burns, Anani and Jullien record NCAA automatic qualifying marks
Virginia Tech Press Release

February 3, 2006

LINCOLN, Neb. - Virginia Tech senior Tamara Burns won the 20-lb. weight throw at the Husker Invitational Friday evening. Four Hokies participated on the first day of the meet.

Burns won the women\'s weight throw with an NCAA automatic qualifying mark of 21.80m (71\'6.25\"), defeating second-place competitor Ariel Brooks of Tennessee. Brooks recorded a toss of 21.43m (70\'3.75\"). Burns\' effort was her fourth NCAA automatic qualifying mark of the season and her third-best throw of the indoor season. It was also the third meet that she has won this year.

Freshman Mohsen Anani narrowly missed first place in the 35-lb. weight throw. He recorded a toss of 21.72m (71\'3.25\") for a second-place finish. Anani\'s throw is his third NCAA automatic qualifying mark of the season. In his previous two meets of the year, Anani had won the event.

Senior Spyridon Jullien placed third in the weight throw. Jullien recorded his second NCAA automatic qualifying mark of the season with a toss of 21.63m (70\'11.75\"). The throw is his second-best effort of the season.

Matej Muza, a freshman, finished 10th in the weight throw after posting a mark of 18.30m (60\'0.50\"). Muza\'s effort is his third best of the season.

The Hokies return to action tomorrow as Ciera Ayangbile will compete in the shot put on the final day of the Husker Invitational while the rest of the Tech track and field team will compete at the Liberty Record Bash in Lynchburg, Va.