NEW ORLEANS, La. – After a strong meet at the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville over the weekend, the Virginia Tech men’s track & field team is ranked No. 8 nationally entering next week’s NCAA Championship, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Tuesday in its week nine outdoor computer rankings. The Hokies moved up eight spots from last week’s rankings and achieved their highest ranking to date this outdoor season.
16 student-athletes will represent the Hokies at the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa from June 6-9. 13 men and three women will represent the Hokies on the national stage. 15 individuals will compete in 16 individual events as Keith Ricks (100 meters and 200 meters) is the lone Hokie to qualify in multiple individual events. The men also qualified the 4x100 meter relay to nationals as three members of that quartet - Darrell Wesh (100 meters), Jeff Artis-Gray (long jump) and Ricks - will also participate in individual events.
Tech’s 14 total entries (including relays) on the men’s side ranks second most in the field, behind only LSU (17). The Hokie women have three individuals set to compete in three separate events.
At the NCAA East Prelims, Wesh (100 meters), Ricks (200 meters), Artis-Gray (long jump) and Sammy Dow (3000 meter steeplechase) all set school records. Artis-Gray broke the longest standing school record in Tech’s record books as he leaped 24-11.25 (7.60m) in the long jump to better Jerry Gaines’ record of 24-10 (7.57m) that was set in 1971.
In addition, Ronnie Black (high jump) and Hunter Hall (pole vault) both earned first place finishes for the Hokies at the East Prelims.
Fans can get all the information about the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship here.
Virginia Tech’s NCAA Championship Qualifiers
Men (13)
Matthias Treff - javelin throw
Jeff Artis-Gray - long jump
Alexander Ziegler - hammer throw
Denis Mahmic - hammer throw
Darrell Wesh - 100 meters
Keith Ricks - 100 meters and 200 meters
Hasheem Halim - triple jump
Joe Davis - pole vault
Hunter Hall - pole vault
Michael Hammond - 1500 meters
Ronnie Black - high jump
Will Mulherin - 5000 meters
4x100 meter relay - Jeff Artis-Gray, Darrell Wesh, Jonathan McCants, Keith Ricks
Women (3)
Valentina Muzaric - shot put
Martina Schultze - pole vault
Sammy Dow - 3000 meter steeplechase
For updates on Virginia Tech track & field, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Track).