Freix, Joyce win 3,000-meter races at Camel City Invitational

Marks the first-ever wins for the Hokie duo

February 2, 2018

Akron Invitational Results | Camel City Invitational Results

Sophomore Sara Freix improved her personal-best time by roughly 30 seconds in the 3,000 meters and redshirt sophomore Jack Joyce set a lifetime best in the event, too, as each took first place representing the Virginia Tech track and field teams at the Camel City Invitational inside the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Friday evening.

Freix clocked a time of 9 minutes, 34.64 seconds, topping second place by 12 seconds. The Centreville, Virginia native’s time was the ninth fastest in school history, and it marked her first-ever event title. Freshman Ellie Brush also ran in the 3,000, posting a seventh-place finish with a time of 10:06.36.

Turning in his first event title as well, Joyce ran around the track in 8:14.88. Redshirt freshman Fitsum Seyoum placed eighth with a time of 8:28.66 and redshirt junior Brent Musselman had a time of 8:34.30 to place 15^th.

Owen Buck led a contingent of Hokies in the 800-meter run, crossing the finish line in 1:55.15 to place sixth. Following Buck was Thierry Siewe Yanga in 13^th place with a time of 1:55.91, Dave Whitfield in 16^th with a personal-best reading of 1:57.09 and Andrew Goldman right behind in 17^th (1:57.14), an indoor best for the redshirt junior.

On the women’s side in the 800, Shannon Quinn tallied a time of 2:10.66 to place third. The time was an indoor personal best for the junior.

Four of the seven events in the heptathlon took place on the campus of Akron at the Akron Invitational inside the Stile Athletics Field House, and freshman Matthew Manilli (2,829 points) and senior Mackenzie Muldoon (2,749) sit in seventh and ninth place. The duo performed their best in the long jump with Manilli jumping a mark of 7.02 meters (23 feet., 0.5 inches) to place second and Muldoon posted a sixth-place finish with a mark of 6.75 meters (22 ft., 1.75 in.).

“I’m really proud of both guys today,” jumps/multi-events coach Paul Zalewski said. “They both showed great competitiveness and were able to help push each other. Mack had a very good first day. Currently, he’s ahead of his PR pace from ACCs last season.

“Matt came through with some great progress. Big PR in the long jump, going over 23 feet (7.00 meters) and really showed me some competitive drive. Great day for both guys.”

In the pole vault event, redshirt freshman Jaelyn Demory turned in a 10^th-place finish, vaulting a height of 4.50 meters (14 ft., 9 in.) at the Akron Invitational. It marked the Fairfax, Virginia native’s third top-10 finish in 2018.

The Hokies will be back at it tomorrow at the two meets, as well as the sprints/hurdles group and thrower Pavla Kuklova competing at Kentucky in the Rod McCravy Invitational. The meet will be carried live on the SEC Network +.

REMAINING WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Sat. | Rod McCravy Invitational | 10 a.m. ET | Live Results | Stream
Sat. | Camel City Invitational | 10:30 a.m. ET | Live Results
Sat. | Akron Invitational | 11 a.m. ET | Live Results

PERSONAL BESTS

W 800
Shannon Quinn, 2:10.66 (Indoor PR)

M 800
Andrew Goldman, 1:57.14 (Indoor PR)
Dave Whitfield, 1:57.09

W 3,000
Sara Freix, 9:34.64

M 3,000
Jack Joyce, 8:14.88
Fitsum Seyoum, 8:28.66

M Heptathlon Long Jump
Matthew Manilli, 7.02m (23’.05”)

M Heptathlon 60
Matthew Manilli, 7.11

M Heptathlon Shot Put
Matthew Manilli, 9.91m (32’6.25”)

M Heptathlon High Jump
Matthew Manilli, 7.02m (6’1.5”)

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