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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Virginia Tech women’s sprint group opened action for the Hokies Thursday at the 118th Penn Relays at Franklin Field. Tech’s 4x100 meter and 4x400 meter relays each advanced out of the preliminary rounds, while freshman Leah Nugent was Tech’s lone individual competitor.

Nugent, a native of nearby Abington, Pa., opened the meet for Tech in the first event the relays Thursday, the college 400 meter hurdles. Nugent, who won the high school 400 meter hurdles at the Penn Relays in 2010, placed third in section three and 10th overall in a time of 1:00.79.

Tech’s 4x400 meter relay squad of junior Yvonne Amegashie, senior Aunye Boone, junior Jameice DeCoster and junior Natalie Woodford clocked a time of 3:41.69 to finish third in their heat and 14th overall in the preliminary heats of the college division. Tech advances to Saturday’s college final at 5:35 p.m. The top eight qualifying college teams advanced to the “Championship of America” final, which is also Saturday afternoon.

In similar fashion as the 4x4 relay, the 4x100 meter relay team of DeCoster, freshman Ciara Simms, Boone and senior Ogechi Nwaneri ran 46.12 to place third in their preliminary heat and 14th overall out of the schools who participated in qualifying. That time advanced Tech to tomorrow’s college final at 1:10 p.m. Also like the 4x4, the top eight qualifying college teams advanced to the “Championship of America” final.

The Hokies will be in action tomorrow at the Penn Relays as the men’s 4x100 meter relay will compete first at 12:40 p.m.

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