BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech conlcuded action at the weekend’s Virginia Tech Challenge, and Saturday’s events saw many Hokies slide up the all-time performance list and secure spots near the top of the conference and national leaderboards.
In Saturday’s field events, Hasheem Halim earned a victory in the men’s triple jump with a season-best 52-3.75 (15.94m), which is just shy of the NCAA automatic qualifying mark of 53-0 (16.15m). This mark currently puts Halim at the top of the ACC and in the top 15 nationally. Yavgeniy Olhovsky earned his second-consecutive victory in the pole vault, improving his season-best height to 17-11.5 (5.47m). Samira Burkhardt further improved her personal best in the shot put, earning a title at 54-9.25 (16.69m). This moves her to second all-time at Virginia Tech, just a quarter of an inch shy of the school record of 54-9.5 (16.70m) set by Brittany Pryor in 2008. Tech’s NCAA qualifier Kelly Phillips was the squad’s highest finisher in the women’s pole vault, clearing 13-7.25 (4.15m) to tie for second place.
The Hokies’ first runners of the day were in the 800 meters, where Sammy Dow led the way for the Hokies, placing fifth with a personal-best 2:11.52 that propels her to fourth all-time at Virginia Tech. Lauren Lemieux and Frances Dowd paired for seventh and eighth-place finishes, where Lemieux’s time of 2:11.77 places her right behind Dow on the all-time list at fifth. With a slew of Hokies competing in the men’s 800 meters, Tech took five of the top 10 spots, including a four-man pack led by Tihut Degfae in second at 1:50.17. This puts Degfae at fifth all-time at Tech. The entire pack, including Degfae, Nick McLaughlin (3rd, 1:51.08), Chris Walizer (4th, 1:51.11) and Michael Hammond (5th, 1:51.34) all earned new personal bests.
The women’s 1,600-meter relay squad of Asia Washington, Aunye Boone, Natalie Woodford and Yvonne Amegashie earned a victory at 3:38.85. This is a new season-best that currently puts them at third in the ACC and third all-time at Virginia Tech.
Next week, Rector Field House plays host to the indoor ACC Championships. Three days of competition begin on Thursday, Feb. 24 at noon with the combined events.
For updates on Virginia Tech track & field, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Track).