Tweet

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech track & field program will be well represented at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. over the next several days, as current and former Tech student-athletes will compete the for the opportunity to represent their country at this summer’s London Olympic Games.

Current Virginia Tech student-athlete, Darrell Wesh (100 meters) has achieved the Trials “A” (automatic) qualifying standard. In addition, former Hokies Keith Ricks (200 meters), Kristi Castlin (100 meter hurdles) and Queen Harrison (100 meter hurdles and 400 meter hurdles) have “A” standards and will be in the field. All four have already also achieved the Olympic Games “A” standard.

Wesh will compete in the first round of the 100 meters on June 23 at 4 p.m. PT. The semifinals and final are both on June 24. Wesh finished fourth in the 100 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championship running 10.30 into a strong headwind, after running a personal best and school record 10.15 in the semifinal round.

The men’s 200 meters for Ricks begins with qualifying rounds on June 29 at 1:45 p.m. PT. The semifinals are June 30 and the final will be the last event of the Trials on July 1. Ricks reset his own school record twice in as many days in the 200 meters at the NCAA East Prelims, running 20.46 in the first round then 20.45 in the quarterfinals.

Both Ricks and Wesh also ran on Tech’s school record setting and 13th place 4x100 meter relay (39.62) at the NCAA Championship.

Castlin and Harrison both will run in the first round of the 100 meter hurdles on June 22 at 5:40 p.m. PT. The semifinals and final are June 23. Harrison is also planning to double and compete in the 400 meter hurdles, which begins on June 28 at 5:30 p.m. and continues with the semifinals on June 29 and final on June 30.

While at Virginia Tech, Castlin was a seven-time All-American in the hurdles. A three-time NCAA runner-up, Castlin’s seven All-America awards are the most for any woman in Tech track & field history. She was also a three-time ACC Champion. Castlin is the reigning USA Indoor champion in 60 meter hurdles.

Harrison was a three-time NCAA Champion and six-time All-American in the hurdles at Virginia Tech. In 2010, Harrison won the Bowerman Award, which is given annually to the top male and female in collegiate track and field. That year, she became the first woman in NCAA history to win the 100 and 400 meter hurdles at the NCAA outdoor championship. Harrison also became Virginia Tech’s first female NCAA champion with her win in the 60 meter hurdles at the 2010 NCAA indoor championship. She qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympics as the youngest member of the United States track & field team at only 19 years old. Harrison, a two-time USA runner-up in the 400 meter hurdles, also represented the USA at the IAAF World Championships last year in Daegu, South Korea.

In addition, Ronnie Black (high jump) and Ricks (100 meters) have the Trials “B” (provisional) qualifying standard and will have to wait and see if their mark qualifies them into the competition.

Black recently recorded a ninth place finish in the high jump (7-2.5, 2.20m) at the NCAA Championship and earned second team All-America honors. He also won the high jump at the NCAA East Prelims with a mark of 7-2.25 (2.19m) and reset his own school record in the high jump with a winning mark of 7-3 (2.21m) at the NC A&T Aggie Classic during the outdoor season.

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