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Track & Field

Hokies sign Maryland's top mid-distance runner

BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech track and field and cross country director Dave Cianelli announced Tuesday that Allie Zolkiewicz has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Hokies for the 2018-19 season.

“I am looking forward to working with Allie,” head cross country and distance coach Ben Thomas said. “She has very good 400 meters speed and I believe she will turn into an excellent 800 runner in our program. As she gets aerobically stronger, she will be very competitive in the ACC in the middle distances.”

A native of Sykesville, Maryland, Zolkiewicz comes to Blacksburg as the reigning MPSSAA champion in the 500 meters and 4x800 meters, while finishing runner up in the 400 and 800 this past spring.

Zolkiewicz was tabbed the Carroll County Times Female Athlete of the Year in the summer. Her personal bests are clocking a time of 57.33 seconds in the 400 meters, a 1:17.25 in the 500 and a time of 2:16.99 in the 800.

“I chose Virginia Tech because when I visited, it felt like home,” Zolkiewicz said. “It has a reputation for developing runners to their fullest potential, and it’s been my dream to run for Hokies since I started high school!”

The Hokies will open their 2018 indoor season at the Nittany Lion Challenge from Jan. 12-13, held at Penn State’s campus in State College.