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Track & Field

Tech earns top marks to begin Spec Towns

ATHENS, Ga. - Marek Barta and Chris Uhle led the Virginia Tech track & field team with first place results on day one of Georgia’s Spec Towns.

Barta’s success continued into this weekend’s competition with his first place finish in the discus with his 59.24-meter (194-4). Jordan Roach added a fourth place mark in 52.81 meters (173-3) for the Hokies in the field of 14 competitors.

Uhle clinched the men’s pole vault with his 5.41-meter (17-9) clearance, matching his personal best mark. Deakin Volz, Jeffrey Linta, and James Steck all posted top-10 results in the pole vault.

Tomas Kruzliak posted a second place finish for the Hokies with his 67.71-meter (222-2) distance in the hammer throw while Pavla Kuklova placed sixth on the women’s side.

Kacia Vines set a personal record in the long jump with her 5.73-meter (18-9.75) mark.

Shanel Burr and Jada Gundran rounded out competition for Tech at the Spec Towns in the 100-meter hurdles. Burr clocked in at 13.70 to place second in section two, seventh overall while Gundran took 12th.

Techs sprinters in addition to the women’s pole vault, javelin, and triple jump, will resume competition on Saturday morning.

LYNCHBURG, Va. - Mackenzie Muldoon and Emily Miller began the multi events with several personal best marks at the Liberty Invitational on Friday.

Muldoon set personal records in three of the five events during the opening day of the decathlon. He posted a 11.39-time in the 100-meter dash to begin the day followed by two more personal bests in the long jump and shot put with 6.80-meter (22-3.75) and 11.27-meter (37-3.75) marks, respectively.

“Mackenzie [Muldoon] had a really good first day, especially considering it’s his first ever decathlon,” assistant coach and technical director Paul Zalewski said. “He had personal bests in three events and won two. He’s leading going into day two so we’ll see but he’s looking really good so far.”

Muldoon leads the field after day one, following first place results in the 100 meters, long jump, and high jump.

On the women’s side, Miller’s 100-meter hurdles highlighted the four events on day one of the heptathlon. The freshman clocked in at 14.86 to place second in the first event of the day.

“All-in-all, it was a solid day for Emily [Miller],” Zalewski said. “Being able to come back and finish a day strong is a great quality to have in a multi.”

Miller sits in fourth place at the conclusion of day one.

Both Muldoon and Miller will finish their remaining events in the multis tomorrow, in addition to Tech’s jumpers, at the Liberty Invitational.