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DES MOINES, Iowa – Redshirt junior Matthias Treff finished third in the javelin throw and junior Ronnie Black was ninth in the high jump as the Virginia Tech track & field team competed Thursday on day two of the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship at Drake Stadium. In addition, senior Michael Hammond advanced through to Saturday's final in the 1500 meters.

Treff posted a season best mark of 248-9 (75.83m) on his first attempt and led the competition after completion of the first flight. Coming out of flight two, Texas A&M's Sam Humphreys took the lead entering the finals, but Illinois State's Tim Glover overtook Treff and Humphreys as he won the event on his fourth toss. Treff recorded marks of 239-8 on his third and fourth throws (73.05m and 73.07m), before hitting 241-7 (73.65m) on his fifth toss and fouling on his final attempt.

Treff earned his second career first-team All-America honor and has now finished in the top-3 in the javelin at the NCAA Championship in each of the last two years as he was runner-up last year in the event. He also earned Tech's first team points of the meet (6) and put the Hokie men into a tie for 15th place through six events scored in the team race.

"Since I was in the first flight, I wanted to come out and open up strong and I was pretty satisfied with my first throw," said Treff. "After that, I didn't really get into the rhythm of the meet and then I had a break (while the second flight threw). The throws (in the final) weren't too bad, I just didn't hit one and the other guys threw very well."

Black finished ninth in the high jump at 7-2.5 (2.20m). He opened the event with first attempt makes at 6-8.75 (2.05m) and 6-10.75 (2.10m), before clearing 7-0.5 (2.15m) and 7-2.5 (2.20m) on his second attempt. He then took attempts at a personal best and school record 7-4.25 (2.24m), but could not negotiate the bar on all three tries.

His 7-2.5 (2.20m) clearance was the second best outdoor clearance of his career, just shy of his school record of 7-3 (2.21m), set last month.

Black's ninth place marks his second highest career finish in the high jump at nationals and puts him in line to earn All-America honors for the third time overall and second-team All-America honors for the second time.

Hammond finished sixth in the first heat of the semifinals of the 1500 meters in 3:40.27 and advanced through to the final on time as the fastest non-automatic qualifier. Hammond's time was the second fastest of his career in the event. The top-5 finishers in each heat plus the next two fastest times advanced. The men's 1500 meter final will be Saturday at 11:17 a.m. CDT.

Senior Keith Ricks was sixth in heat two of the semifinals of the men's 200 meters (20.96) and 20th overall.

Friday will be a busy day for the Hokies. Defending national champion Alexander Ziegler and classmate Denis Mahmic open the day for Tech in the hammer throw at 2 p.m. CDT. Seniors Joe Davis and Hunter Hall will compete in the pole vault at 4:30 p.m., while senior Hasheem Halim's triple jump competition also begins at 4:30 p.m. Freshman Valentina Muzaric throws in the shot put at 5 p.m. and sophomore Darrell Wesh runs in the final of the 100 meters at 5:55 p.m. Senior Will Mulherin caps the night for Tech in the 5000 meters at 7:10 p.m. ESPN3 will broadcast tomorrow's action online beginning at 5:30 p.m. CDT.

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