Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Incoming freshman Eszter Bajnok of the women’s track and field team finished seventh in the long jump final at the 2016 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World U20 Championships on Friday at Zawisza Stadium located in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
A native of Kethely, Hungary, Bajnok jumped a final mark of 6.16 meters (20 feet, 2.5 inches). France's Yanis David leaped a top mark of 6.42 meters, while Germany’s Sophie Weissenberg jumped 6.40 meters to place second.
Bajnok finished eighth overall in the qualifying round, jumping a best of 6.18 meters (20 feet, 3.5 inches) to advance to the long jump final. Only the top 12 performers advanced.
Bajnok joins the Hokies roster this fall, as she will participate in the long and triple jump events this upcoming season. She holds a personal best of 6.45 meters (21 feet, 2.5 inches) in the long jump and was named the 2015 Hungarian Junior and National Champion. Her personal best in the triple jump is 13.20 meters (43 feet, 3.75 inches).
The World Championship finals will continue tomorrow, as rising sophomore Deakin Volz and incoming freshman Emma Thor compete in the pole vault and hammer throw finals, respectively.
Thor, a native of Sweden, finished third in her respected heat and placed sixth overall, throwing a total mark of 61.33 meters (201 feet, 2 inches) to qualify for the hammer throw final. A native of Bloomington, Indiana, Volz finished seventh in his respected heat and tied for 10th place overall, jumping a height of 5.20 meters (17 feet, .75 inches) to qualify for the pole vault final.
The top 12 performers advanced in each event with the hammer throw final starting at 11 a.m. ET on Saturday, followed by the pole vault final at 11:10 a.m. ET.
Complete results from today’s long jump final can be found at www.iaaf.org.