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BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech women’s track and field team got strong performances from its middle distance runners to headline the first day of action Friday evening at the Virginia Tech Challenge held at Rector Field House.

Hanna Green, Rachel Pocratsky and Katie Kennedy all recorded the top times in their respective events, as the Hokies were competing in their final meet in preparation for next week’s ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships.

In the women’s 1,000-meter run, Green won her section and recorded the best time overall, finishing in 2:45.60. In the 600, the Hokies swept the top four spots in the first section, with Pocratsky leading the way. Pocratsky finished with a time of 1:30.29, more than a second head of teammate Shannon Morton, who ran the event in a time of 1:31.52.

Pocratsky’s time led all competitors in the event. The Hokies’ Shannon Quinn (1:32.91) and Tessa Riley (1:34.11) came in third and fourth, respectively.

In the women’s 800, Kennedy won her section, finishing in a time of 2:10.71, and that time was the best overall in the event. Jennifer Fleming finished seventh in the same section with a time of 2:21.21.

In the women’s mile, Abigail Motley finished third in her section with a time of 4:59.31. That time was third-best overall in the event.

The Hokies also got strong performances from their women’s hurdlers and sprinters. In the women’s 200, Nora McKiver won her section in a time of 24.14 seconds – a time that also was the best in the event. Ama-Selina Tchume won her section as well, finishing in a time of 24.69, while Courtney Blanden finished second in her section with a time of 24.73. In addition, Adeyeni Aromolaran came in second in her section with a time of 24.99 and Shanel Burr came in fourth in the same section with a time of 25.54.

Both McKiver and Burr qualified for the finals in the 60-meter hurdles. Burr, who won her heat to qualify for the finals, finished third in a time of 8.46 seconds. McKiver, who was second in her heat, came in eighth in a time of 8.67 seconds.

On the men’s side, Darius Watkins ran well in the 60- and 200-meter races. He advanced to the finals of the 60 by finishing third in his heat, and in the final, he came in fourth in a time of 6.84 seconds. In the 200, he won his section and finished fifth overall in a time of 21.72.

Dante Price came in second in his section in the 200 and was sixth overall with a time of 21.88. Jared Bane won his section and came in ninth overall with a time of 22.16.

In the men’s mile, Darren Barlow finished second in his section with a time of 4:06.19, with Juan Campos coming in fourth with a time of 4:07.72. Andrew Goldman won his section of the event with a time of 4:12.78.

Also on the men’s side, Alex Maguire came in fifth in the 1,000-meter run with a time of 2:29.15. Kevin Cianfarini ran the 600 in a time of 1:19.63 to finish second in his section and second overall.

Day two of the meet begins Saturday at 11 a.m. and features several men’s and women’s relay and longer distance events along with the finals of the high jump, triple jump, pole vault and shot put.

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