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GREENSBORO, N.C. – Five Hokie field athletes earned a trip to the NCAA Track and Field National Finals, while two standout seniors advanced in the women’s 400-meter hurdles in the first day of the NCAA East Preliminary Round on Thursday in Greensboro, N.C.

Freshman Alexander Ziegler picked an opportune time to throw his collegiate best in the men’s hammer throw. The Dischingen, Germany native launched a mark of 234-01, over 10 feet further than the runner-up finisher, to stamp his ticket to the national-final site in Eugene, Ore., in the event.

Joining Ziegler in the men’s hammer throw out west will be sophomore Marcel Lomnicky, who finished fourth in the qualifying round with a toss of 221-07, and senior Matej Muza, who earned 10^th with a throw of 205-03. Lomnicky currently owns the top mark in the nation at 245-06. Freshman Denis Mahmic took 14^th, throwing 200-06 and just missed advancing to the finals, as the top 12 throws in the event advanced.

Two more Hokie field athletes qualified for the finals in Eugene, as senior Yavgeniy Olhovsky and junior Jared Jodon claimed fourth and 12^th, respectively, in the men’s pole vault. Olhovsky and Jodon both cleared 17-02.75 in the qualifying round. Olhovsky will be going for his sixth All-America honor, while Jodon is competing in the event finals at the national meet for the first time. Junior Hunter Hall came in 19^th with a clearance of 16-08.75 in the event on Thursday.

Seniors Queen Harrison and Asia Washington both took care of business in the first round of the women’s 400-meter hurdles. Harrison won the fifth heat of the race with a time of 56.53, and Washington finished second in the sixth heat, clocking 57.18. Harrison, who is ranked first in the event and Washington, ranked 17^th, will both compete in the quarterfinals of the event on Friday at 7:15 p.m.

Three other Hokies capped their 2010 campaign on Thursday. Junior Chris Walizer ran 3:54.34 for 40^th place and sophomore Michael Hammond could not finish in the men’s 1,500-meter run, while junior Ryan Witt clocked a 1:51.75 for 43^rd place in the men’s 800-meter run.

In sprints action, Keith Ricks ran 10.55 in the men’s 100-meter dash, taking 35^th overall, and sophomore Ogechi Nwaneri and freshman Funmi Alabi placed 35^th and 42^nd, respectively, in the women’s 100-meter dash. Nwaneri crossed the line in 11.72, while Alabi finished in 11.85.

Action at the NCAA East Preliminary Round will continue on Friday, beginning at 10 a.m., with the men’s javelin. The first Hokie competitor on the day will be top-ranked junior Dorotea Habazin in the women’s hammer throw at 11 a.m. Results will be available on hokiesports.com.

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