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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Virginia Tech men’s and women’s sprinters continued action Friday for the Hokies at the 118th Penn Relays at Franklin Field.

The men’s 4x100 meter relay team of junior Jeff Artis-Gray, sophomore Darrell Wesh, junior Jonathan McCants and senior All-American Keith Ricks began the day for Tech as they finished third in heat five and 11th overall in qualifying in a time of 40.68. That performance advanced the relay to tomorrow’s college final at 1:45 p.m. and ranks No. 5 in Tech history. The top eight teams advanced to the “Championship of America” final.

The women’s 4x100 meter relay quartet of freshman Ciara Simms, junior Jameice DeCoster, senior Aunye Boone and senior Ogechi Nwaneri finished third in the college final in 45.74, after running 46.12 in yesterday’s prelims.

In the qualifying heats of the women’s 100 meters, Nwaneri led Tech in 16th with a time of 11.90, while Simms was 17th in 12.06.

In the high hurdles, Artis-Gray finished 16th in the prelims of the men’s 110 meter hurdles (14.24), while freshman Leah Nugent, a native of nearby Abington, Pa., was 19th in the women’s 100 meter hurdles (14.02).

Also for Tech Friday, redshirt sophomore Leigh Allin and redshirt freshman Lyndsey Saunders placed third and fourth, respectively, in the women's pole vault at Radford's Highlander Invitational. Both women cleared 11-5.75 (3.50m).

Tech will be in action tomorrow for the final day of the Penn Relays. Along with the men’s 4x100 meter relay, the women’s 4x400 meter relay is slated to run in the college final at 5:35 p.m. In the field events, All-Americans Ronnie Black (high jump) and Hasheem Halim (triple jump) are scheduled to compete.

In addition to the Penn Relays, the Hokies will also compete tomorrow at Cal’s Brutus Hamilton Invitational and on day two of the Highlander Invitational.

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