Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech track & field team sends 31 Hokies to Jacksonville, Florida to compete at the 2016 NCAA East Preliminary Rounds at the University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium Thursday through Saturday.
The top 12 competitors in each event will advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon beginning June 8th through 11th.
Field events begin Thursday and Friday at noon and at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. The track events begin at 4:30 p.m., 5 p.m., and 6 p.m. each day, respectively.
Tech’s three 2016 ACC outdoor champions highlight the 13th-ranked men’s squad while Hanna Green leads the women’s team following her third ACC championship in the 800 meters.
On the men’s side, 2016 two-time ACC champion Thomas Curtin ranks fourth nationally in the 5,000 meters while three of Tech’s seven pole vaulters rank in the top 15 led by Torben Laidig in fifth. In the throws, Marek Barta adds a top-five national place in the discus, Tomas Kruzliak ranks 11th in the hammer throw while ACC javelin champion ranks 10th.
For the women’s team, Green ranks fifth nationally with her US Olympic Trials qualifying time at the ACC championships. Javelin thrower Eva Vivod leads Tech’s throwers with her top-10 ranking.
Sprints: Courtney Blanden will represent Tech’s sprinters in the 200-meter dash. The sophomore qualified at the War Eagle Invitational, ranking seventh in program history with her 23.79-time.
Distance: ACC Champion in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters Curtin highlights the Hokies’ distance squad with the fourth-best 5,000-meter time in the nation. Patrick Joseph leads the group of three in the 800 meters following his second place finish at the conference meet. Neil Gourley ran his qualifying time in the 1,500 meters at the Payton Jordan Invite. Darren Barlow and Stuart Robertson will compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase after setting season-best marks at the ACC Championships. Andrew Gaiser will run the last event of the meet in the 10,000 meters on Saturday night.
Green leads the women’s side following her 800-meter ACC Championship in Tallahassee, Florida. Freshman Rachel Pocratsky will join Green in the 800 meters in her first NCAA appearance.
Jumps: Manuel Ziegler represents Tech’s jumpers in the triple jump on Saturday, setting his season best mark of 15.72 meters (51-7) at the ACC Championshps.
Pole Vault: After dominating the ACC Championships with their first through seventh place marks, Tech’s pole vaulters look to build on their success at the NCAA regional meet. Two-time ACC champion Chris Uhle took the crown in Tallahassee while both indoor and outdoor program record-holder Torben Laidig placed second with indoor all-American Deakin Volz placing third.
Erica Hjerpe is the lone competitor on the women’s side with her No. 24 national ranking.
Throws: With his top-five national place, Barta leads the Hokies’ throwers, following his second place finish at the ACC championships. Kruzliak followed suit in the hammer throw, taking second at the conference meet. Brothers Matija and Jaka Muhar took first and second, respectively while freshman Matija ranks 10th nationally.
First-team all-ACC member Vivod leads the women’s side with her top-10 ranking in the javelin. Freshman Pavla Kuklova ranks 23rd in the hammer throw
Of Note: Reigning NCAA javelin champion Irena Sediva is out for the remainder of the season due to injury.
Up Next: Following the 2016 NCAA East Regional Preliminary Rounds, the Hokies will have one week off from competition prior to NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon June 8th through 11th. The top 12 competitors in each event will qualify for the national meet.