Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech track and field and cross country director Dave Cianelli announced Wednesday that Jake Claricurzio and Matthew Harding will join the Hokies for the 2018-19 season.
The Hokies' staff, made up of Andrew Dubs, Ben Thomas, Eric Johannigmeier, Bob Phillips, Tim Vaught and Paul Zalewski, has added two more athletes to one of the best recruiting classes in school history. Track and Field News will release its top recruiting classes once the spring signing period has concluded in its annual summer magazine.
Harding will come to Blacksburg following a two-year stint at UNC Asheville, where he qualified for the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Championships as a freshman. The Conwy, North Wales native also won the 800 meters three times while competing in the Big South Conference Championships for the Bulldogs.
"Matthew Harding is a talented middle distance runner who is just beginning to find out how good he can be," Thomas, the distance coach, said. "UNCA did a great job getting him started and I know he will fit in well with our group and have an opportunity to be one of the best in the NCAA."
A graduate from Rydal Penrhos School during his prep career, Harding owns personal-best times of 1:47.92 in the 800 and 3:47.47 in the 1,500.
"The results that the coaching staff at Virginia Tech have achieved with countless athletes could not be ignored," Harding said. "I knew that Virginia Tech was going to be the place for me after I took my visit and really enjoyed my time spent on campus, as well as the guys on the team."
A native of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Claricurzio comes to Blacksburg as the PIAA state champion in the 4x800-meter relay during the 2017 outdoor season, as well as the PTFCA state champion in the 4x800 during this past indoor season.
"Claricurzio is a tough racer, and we definitely need tough racers if we're going to continue to compete in the ACC," Thomas said. "I know he's a hard worker as well, and feel he will improve in our program."
Claricurzio, who will graduate from Central Bucks High School West this spring, owns a personal-best time of 1:53.83 seconds in the 800 meters.
"It was the education and track career I was in search of," Claricurzio said when asked about his commitment to Tech. "When I was given the opportunity to be a Hokie, my decision was simple."
The Hokies will be back in action on Thursday, competing at the Mt. SAC Relays in California. They will also compete at the Beach Invitational in the Golden State, as well as the Duke Invitational and War Eagle Classic from Friday through Saturday.