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BLACKSBURG, Va. – Senior Queen Harrison achieved another milestone in her already-storied career, breaking the eight-second mark in the women’s 60-meter hurdles, while freshman Alexander Ziegler stamped his ticket to the NCAA Indoor Championships in the men’s weight throw on Friday at the VT Elite Meet in Rector Field House.

The Hokies compiled a very successful opening day of the meet. Tech won five events, while breaking two school records and numerous personal bests.

In the prelims of the women’s 60-meter hurdles, Harrison sprinted a 7.99, becoming the first Hokie to come in under the eight-second mark, and then improved on the time in the finals to capture the event title, clocking a 7.96. The time bettered the former school record of 8.01, set by teammate senior Kristi Castlin in 2008, and her former career-best of 8.02, and also keeps the Richmond, Va., native atop the nation in the event. Castlin placed second in race with a time of 8.08. The 8.08 time is a season best for Castlin and ranks second in the country in the event.

Ziegler launched an NCAA automatic qualifying mark in the men’s weight throw in only his second meet as a collegian. In his fourth attempt of the competition, the Dischingen, Germany native tossed a 72-05.75 to win the event by over four and a half feet and surpass the NCAA automatic mark of 70-6.50 by almost two feet. The throw ranks third in the U.S. currently, as well as third among Tech’s all-time performers in the event. Freshman Denis Mahmic, performing in his first collegiate meet, took fifth with an NCAA provisional mark of 64-00.25.

Tech received another victory in the women’s 60-meter dash, as sophomore Ogechi Nwaneri ran a career-best 7.39 to finish first. Nwaneri, already provisionally qualified in the event, cut her season-best time by five-hundredths of a second. Freshman Funmi Alabi added a runner-up effort in the event, earning a time of 7.46. On the men’s side, sophomore Keith Ricks claimed third, clocking 6.67 in the 60-meter dash.

The distance crew got the meet started off strongly early, as sophomore Michael Hammond set a meet record en route to a first-place finish in the men’s 3,000-meter run. Hammond competed in previous meets this year unattached, but ran for Tech at the Elite Meet. The Midlothian, Va., native clocked an 8:10.27, snapping the former record of 8:11.95 by teammate senior Devin Cornwall and shattering his previous career best of 8:22.65. Fellow sophomore Will Mulherin took third in the race with a career-best time of his own, timing in at 8:12.99.

Another distance title came later in the meet in the men’s 800-meter run. Junior Nick McLaughlin took first place, edging the second-place finisher by one hundredth of a second, running a 1:53.30. Junior Jeff Miller followed McLaughlin in fourth with a time of 1:54.14. Friday marked McLaughlin’s and Miller’s first 800-meters of the season.

The open section of the 200-meters capped the sprints action on the day, as Aunye Boone put up an impressive performance in the women’s race. Boone clocked a 24.25 for second place.

In her first outing of the season competing for Tech, junior Dorotea Habazin tossed a 64-00.25 to place third in the women’s weight throw. The Zagreb, Croatia wasted no time putting out a solid throw, earning the mark in her first attempt of the competition.

Other Hokies rounded out the strong first day of the meet. Junior Jessica Trapeni ran a personal record in the women’s mile run, crossing the line in 5:01.62 for third place, while junior Kelly Phillips cleared a season-best 12-08.25 to take third in the women’s pole vault. On the men’s side, freshman Ryan Hagen placed fifth in the mile run with a time of 4:14.67.

Events at the VT Elite Meet continue tomorrow, beginning with the men’s high jump at 11 a.m. The first events featuring Hokies begin at noon with the men’s pole vault, men’s shot put and the men’s triple jump. Results will be available on hokiesports.com.

Men’s Results

3,000-Meter Run – 1, Michael Hammond, Virginia Tech, 8:10.27, 2, Ryan Hill, NC State, 8:10.70, 3, Will Mulherin, Virginia Tech, 8:12.99, 4, Patrick Campbell, NC State, 8:13.99, 5, Evan Watchempino, North Carolina, 8:22.70

Weight Throw – 1, Alexander Ziegler, Virginia Tech, 72-05.75, 2, John Freeman, Georgia, 68-01, 3, Zach Berg, Clemson, 66-11.50, 4, Branislav Danis, Georgia, 64-01.25, 5, Denis Mahmic, Virginia Tech, 64-00.25

Mile Run – 1, Logan Rosenberg, North Carolina, 4:11.80, 2, John Martinez, NC State, 4:12.37, 3, Luis Orta, Kentucky, 4:12.77, 4, Adam Cunningham, North Carolina, 4:13.88, 5, Ryan Hagen, Virginia Tech, 4:14.67

60-Meter Dash – 1, Rondel Sorrillo, Kentucky, 6.60, 2, Jeff Demps, Florida, 6.61, 3, Keith Ricks, Virginia Tech, 6.67, 4, Chris Rainey, Florida, 6.70, 5, Justin Austin, Kentucky, 6.73

800-Meter Run – 1, Nick McLaughlin, Virginia Tech, 1:53.30, 2, Danny Neff, Georgia, 1:53.31, 3, Jasen Turnbull, Clemson, 1:53.87, 4, Jeff Miller, Virginia Tech, 1:54.14, 5, Tommy Friscia, Maryland, 1:54.35

Women’s Results

Weight Throw – 1, Kristin Smith, Kentucky, 67-6, 2, Nikola Lomnicka, Georgia, 65-10.25, 3, Dorotea Habazin, Virginia Tech, 64-00.25, 4, Lawanda Henry, NC State, 63-00.75, 5, Ashley Muffet, Kentucky, 57-9

Mile Run – 1, Kimberly Ruck, Clemson, 4:54.96, 2, Christina Nelson, Maryland, 4:58.17, 3, Jessica Trapeni, Virginia Tech, 5:01.62, 4, Cally Macumber, Kentucky, 5:02.22, 5, Annie Martin, Georgia Tech, 5:02.48

Pole Vault – 1, Jade Reibold, Georgia, 13-02.25, 2, Kat Majester, Georgia, 13-02.25, 3, Caroline Kennedy, 12-08.25, 4, Kelly Phillips, Virginia Tech, 12-08.25, 5, Erin Mahony, Unattached, 12-08.25

60-Meter Hurdles – 1, Queen Harrison, Virginia tech, 7.96, 2, Kristi Castlin, Virginia Tech, 8.08, 3, Michaylin Golladay, Clemson, 8.51, 4, Liane Weber, Clemson, 8.67, 5, Micayah Clemons, Clemson, 8.67

60-Meter Dash – 1, Ogechi Nwaneri, Virginia Tech, 7.39, 2, Funmi Alabi, Virginia Tech, 7.46, 3, Georgina Nembhard, Georgia, 7.47, 4, Stormy Kendrick, Clemson, 7.48, 5, Odeika Bent, Georgia, 7.54

200-Meter Dash – 1, Jasmine Edgerson, Clemson, 24.20, 2, Aunye Boone, Virginia Tech, 24.45, 3, Jenae Anderson, Georgia Tech, 4, Tiffany Grant, Georgia Tech, 24.57, 5, Danielle Williams, Florida, 24.96

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