BLACKSBURG, Va. – A fourth Hokie qualified for the NCAA Championships in the men’s weight throw for the Virginia Tech track and field squads on the first day of the VT Challenge on Friday at the Rector Field House in Blacksburg, Va.

Senior Matej Muza became the fourth Hokie to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the men’s weight throw this indoor season, tossing 65-06 in the event and surpassing the provisional mark of 63-11. The Zagreb, Croatia native placed second in the event. Freshman Alexander Ziegler owns an automatic mark in the weight throw, while sophomore Marcel Lomnicky and freshman Denis Mahmic are also provisionally qualified in the event.

Competing in his first competition of the indoor season, junior Ebenezer Amegashie captured the men’s 60-meter hurdle crown. The Dumfries, Va., native ran a career-best time of 8.16, coming in just under his former personal record of 8.18, to take the race.

Tech started the meet out strongly, as freshman Lauren Pinkston clocked a 2:53.50 for fourth place in the 1,000-meter run, the opening event at the meet. Junior Kieran Lee took fifth in the men’s event with a time of 2:26.65. Both Pinkston’s and Lee’s times were personal bests and the fastest run by a Hokie in the women’s and men’s 1,000-meters, respectively, this year.

The distance crew added four more top-five performances as the evening progressed. In the men’s 600-meter run, sophomore Nick McLaughlin and freshman Ryan Hagen earned fourth and fifth place, respectively. Hagen crossed the line in 1:20.46, while McLaughlin clocked a 1:20.74. Freshman Sammy Dow placed third in the women’s 3,000-meter run, running a career-best 9:47.21. Dow has now increased her personal best in the 3,000-meters in each of her three showings in the race this season. Sophomore Brian Welch finished fifth in the men’s 3,000-meters with a time of 8:22.72.

In other field action, junior Caitlin Thornley won the unseeded section of the women’s pole vault. Thornley cleared 12-03.25 in her final attempt at the height to secure the victory. Freshman David Wilson placed third in the men’s long jump with a leap of 23-08.75, bettering his collegiate best by over five feet.

To close out the day for the Hokies, sophomore Ogechi Nwaneri and freshman Funmi Alabi continued their stellar season in the women’s 200-meter dash. Nwaneri took third in a season-best time of 24.15, and Alabi placed fifth with a time of 24.60. Nwaneri’s effort marked her fourth top-five finish in the event this year.

Full results of the VT Challenge can be found on www.flashresults.com. Events at the meet continue on Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m., with the men’s high jump and the seeded section of the women’s pole vault, featuring freshman Emma DeJarnette, junior Kelly Phillips and senior Lisa Birnbaum. Results will be available on hokiesports.com.

Women’s Results

1,000-Meter Run – 1, Tasia Potasinski, Virginia, 2:51.02, 2, Annie Reiner, James Madison, 2:52.72, 3, Caitlin Crawford, Wake Forest, 2:53.07, 4, Lauren Pinkston, Virginia Tech, 2:53.50, 5, Heather Beichner, William & Mary, 2:53.75

Pole Vault (unseeded) – 1, Caitlin Thornley, Virginia Tech, 12-03.25, 2, Leigh Allin, Unattached, 11-05.75, 3, Kate Collins, VMI, 11-05.75, t4, Jenna Helmink, UNC Wilmington, 10-11.75, t4, Erin Harrison, James Madison, 10-11.75

3,000-Meter Run – 1, Janel Blancett, Georgia State, 9:41.28, 2, Betsy Graney, William & Mary, 9:44.27, 3, Sammy Dow, Virginia Tech, 9:47.21, 4, Laura Sinclair, George Mason, 9:51.78, 5, Kayley Byrne, William & Mary, 9:54.78

200-Meter Dash – 1, Deedee Trotter, Unattached, 23.71, 2, Barbara Pierre, St. Augustine’s, 23.88, 3, Ogechi Nwaneri, Virginia Tech, 24.15, 4, Quina Fortune, VCU, 24.53, 5, Funmi Alabi, Virginia Tech, 24.60

Men’s Results

1,000-Meter Run – 1, Chris Tyson, William & Mary, 2:25.21, 2, Harry Miller, William & Mary, 2:25.48, 3, Liam Anastasia-Murphy, William & Mary, 2:26.46, 4, Sintayehu Taye, Virginia, 2:26.61, 5, Kieran Lee, Virginia Tech, 2:26.65

600-Meter Run – 1, Kevin Wilson, George Mason, 1:19.96, 2, Wil Zahorodny, UNC Wilmington, 1:20.17, 3, Nick Pederzolli, UNC Wilmington, 1:20.32, 4, Nick McLaughlin, Virginia Tech, 1:20.46, 5, Ryan Hagen, Virginia Tech, 1:20.74

60-Meter Hurdles – 1, Ebenezer Amegashie, Virginia Tech, 8.16, 2, Lavell Handy, George Mason, 8.17, 3, Ronnie Griffith, St. Augustine’s, 8.19, 4, Devon Watlington, UNC Wilmington, 8.25, 5, Bryan Wallace, Radford, 8.28

3,000-Meter Run – 1, Tom Burke, William & Mary, 8:14.56, 2, Loris Hutterli, Georgia State, 8:19.26, 3, Andrew Colley, Unattached, 8:19.44, 4, Colin Leak, William & Mary, 8:21.76, 5, Brian Welch, Virginia Tech, 8:22.72

Long Jump – 1, William Bailey, Bowie State, 24-11, 2, George Kitchens, Unattached, 24-05.50, 3, David Wilson, Virginia Tech, 23-08.75, 4, Steve Flemming, Ireland, 23-08.25, 5, Matt Meyer, Virginia, 23-04.75