Tweet

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Senior Queen Harrison added another milestone to her storied career, as the Richmond, Va., native ran the fastest time in school history in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, while sophomore Marcel Lomnicky broke Tech’s men’s hammer throw record for the Virginia Tech track and field squads at the Florida Relays in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday.

Harrison ran a 12.65 winning the women’s 100-meter hurdles in the extremely strong field. The Hermitage High alum shattered her own school record, formerly 12.70, and the meet and facility record of 12.69, set by Nike-sponsored runner Damu Cherry, who placed second on Friday with a time of 12.66. The clocking also ranks first in the world, topping Cuba’s Yenima Arencibia’s wind-aided and hand-timed mark of 12.80.Senior Kristi Castlin also shined in the event, placing fourth with a time of 13.01. The mark improved on Castlin’s previous season-best of 13.22 and sits in second in the nation among U.S. collegians.

Harrison continued her stellar meet, as the senior collected another victory in the 400-meter hurdles later in the day. The senior ran a 56.06, the top time in the nation coming into the weekend, to win the race. Senior Asia Washington, who formerly held the top time of 57.92 prior to Harrison’s effort, finished fifth in the event with a time of 57.77.

On his last throw of the competition, sophomore Marcel Lomnicky broke another school record for the Hokies and scored a victory for the men’s squad in the hammer throw. The Nitra, Slovakia native tossed a 245-06 to win the event and break two-time hammer throw NCAA Champion Spyridon Jullien’s school standard of 238-05, set in 2005. The throw also set an ACC record. Senior Matej Muza took fifth in the event with a throw of 208-06. Lomnicky and Muza’s marks rank first and 10^th in the nation, respectively, coming into the weekend.

Senior Igor Misljenovic won the men’s discus throw in impressive fashion. The Zagreb, Croatia, native tossed a mark of 184-02, winning the Hokies’ last title of the day at the meet. Misljenovic dominated the event, defeating the runner-up finisher by almost eight feet.

In other action at the Florida Relays, junior Dorotea Habazin placed second in the women’s hammer throw, launching 212-14. Habazin’s mark resides in first in the U.S. coming into this weekend. Sophomore Keith Ricks ran a career-best in the men’s 100-meter dash. Ricks clocked a 10.38 en route to an eighth-place finish in the event.

Tech also competed in the Colonial Relays on the day in Williamsburg, Va. Sophomore Nick McLaughlin earned sixth in the men’s 800-meter run with a time of 1:51.00 at the meet to highlight Hokie competition on Friday.

The Florida and Colonial Relays continue tomorrow. Collegiate events at the Florida Relays begin at 11:30 a.m., while events at the Colonial Relays are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Results will be available on hokiesports.com.

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