BLACKSBURG – Dave Cianelli, Virginia Tech’s director of track and field and cross country announced Wednesday that he and his staff have added Blacksburg High School standout Mikayla Richardson to the 2015-16 recruiting class. She will join the Hokies this fall.

Richardson brings the total number of the class to 14 student-athletes. She will be a distance runner at Tech, running in the middle and longer distances as well as cross country. (Photo on the right courtesy of The Roanoke Times)

A few weeks ago at the Virginia High School League’s Group 3A state meet in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Richardson won three gold medals in leading the Blacksburg High School girls team to a second-place finish in the race for the team championship. Her time of 5:02.40 in the 1,600-meter run beat the nearest competitor by more than 11 seconds.

Highlights

• 2015 and 2016 Group 3A state champion in the 800

• 2016 Group 3A state champion in the 1,600

• 2016 Group 3A state champion in the 4x800 relay

Personal bests

• 800 – 2:14.16

• Mile – 4:50.40

Distance coach Ben Thomas on Richardson: “We are thrilled to have Mikayla join our talented recruiting class. Mikayla is a great fit for our team and we are excited to watch her continue to improve in the middle distances as well as cross country.”

Richardson on Virginia Tech: “I've always wanted to run for Tech, ever since I was a freshman. Growing up right next to campus I got to see and hear firsthand of how great a team it was – a team I dreamed of being a part of!”

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