Tweet

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech track and field squad opened up their 2010 campaign with several strong performances at the Virginia Tech Invitational at Rector Field House in Blacksburg, Va.

The highlight of the opening day came in the 500-meter dash, as senior Asia Washington, running unattached in the meet, clocked a 1:11.49 to win the race and set a school record. The Piscataway, N.J., native owned the previous Tech record in the 500-meters of 1:12.23 and shattered it in the first competition of the season.

Junior Jared Jodon started the 2010 season strongly for the Hokies with a third-place finish in the men’s pole vault, clearing 16-09.25 in the seeded section of the event. Teammate junior Hunter Hall took fifth in the event with a vault of 16-03.25. Former Hokie Brian Mondschein, competing unattached, won the pole vault with a clearance of 17-11.

A late kick by freshman Ryan Hagen helped the Sterling, Va., native capture the second heat of the 1,000-meters with a time of 2:33.39. Fellow freshman Tihut Degfae clocked a 2:33.69 to finish behind Hagen in the second heat. Hagen and Degfae placed fifth and sixth, respectively, overall in the race. Coming in third in the heat and eighth overall was junior Nick McLaughlin, who crossed the line 2:34.23.

In the women’s mile, junior Jessica Trapeni ran a career-best 5:06.21 to come from behind and win the second heat of the race. The Fairfax, Va., native placed ninth overall in the event. Former Hokie Natalie Sherbak, competing in the race unattached, placed sixth overall with a time of 4:58.18.

Events at the Virginia Tech Invitational continue on Saturday, beginning with the men’s high jump and the unseeded section of the women’s pole vault at 11 a.m. Results will be available on hokiesports.com.

Men’s Results

Pole Vault (seeded) – 1, Brian Mondschein, unattached, 17-11, 2, Xavier Tromp, Clemson, 17-07, 3, Jared Jodon, Virginia Tech, 16-09.25, 4, Elliot Haynie, South Carolina, 16-09.25, 5, Hunter Hall, Virginia Tech, 16-03.25.

1,000-meter run – 1, Adu Dentamo, Charlotte, 2:27.82, 2, Jared Bell, Florida State, 2:28.57, 3, Kieran Lee, unattached, 2:29.29, 4, Dakota Lowery, Charlotte, 2:31.93, 5, Ryan Hagen, Virginia Tech, 2:33.39, 6, Tihut Degfae, Virginia Tech, 2:33.69, 7, Corey Grove, High Point, 2:33.94, 8, Nick McLaughlin, Virginia Tech, 2:34.23.

Women’s Results

500-meters – 1, Asia Washington, unattached, 1:11.49, 2, Brittany Pringley, Clemson, 1:12.99, 3, Tasha Stanley, North Carolina, 1:14.08, 4, Lea Orley, Arkansas, 1:14.64, 5, Meagan Gillespie, Virginia, 1:14.87.

For updates on Virginia Tech track & field, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Track).