The Virginia Tech track and field teams wrapped up the final day of the Bob Pollock Invitational and Black and Gold Premier, with 10 Hokies posting top-five finishes in their respective events.
Freshman Jacory Patterson got right back into the swing of things after missing the Hokie Invitational last weekend. The Columbia, South Carolina native set the 200 indoor school record with a time of 20.84 seconds. That time was two tenths of a second faster than the previous record held by Greg Chiles (21.04). His time is currently the best in the ACC and the fourth-fastest time in the nation.
"Jacory was in lane five and the person in lane six didn't show up, so he didn't have anyone to chase," Tech sprints coach Tim Vaught said. "He was pretty much running against the clock, and I know he can run a lot faster."
After resetting her own school record in the long jump last week at the Hokie Invitational, junior Eszter Bajnok came out focused and reset her own school record in the triple jump after leaping 13.04 meters (42 feet, 9.5 inches). With that mark, she finished second overall and first among college athletes.
"Eszter showed up ready today," Tech jumps coach Paul Zalewski said. "I knew she had confidence coming off of her school-record long jump last weekend and the training sessions we had last week. She set a new school record and a new indoor personal best. She knows there is more there, though. She had a couple pretty big fouls. It's going to be a lot of fun seeing what she's capable of at the ACC Championships and beyond."
Senior Deakin Volz put a bow on the Hokies' day with a final event title and his third vault title in as many weeks after clearing a height of 5.40 meters (17 feet, 8.5 inches).
JUMPS/MULTI
Freshman Sean Murphy scored 4,685 points and finished in third place among college athletes in his first ever collegiate heptathlon.
"Sean did well this weekend," Zalewski said. "It was his first ever heptathlon and the purpose was for him to experience it and know what to expect when we get to ACCs. He did well, getting PR's in the 60, 60 hurdles, and pole vault. Now with some good work over the next few weeks, he's got a chance to do some good things at the conference championship."
Stefanie Aeschlimann jumped 12.09 meters (39 feet, 8 inches) in the triple jump to record a seventh-place finish.
POLE VAULT
Sophomore Jaelyn Demory finished third in the pole vault, clearing a height of 4.85 meters (15 feet, 11 inches), while freshman Harrison Rice vaulted 4.55 meters (14 feet, 11 inches).
SPRINTS
On the women's side, sophomore Kennedy Dennis set a new PR in the 200 with a time of 23.73 to finish second in the event. With that time, she now holds the fourth-fastest time in school history. Freshman Nykah Smith finished third in her heat and ninth overall with her time of 24.29.
On the men's side, junior Michael Davenport earned a fourth-place finish with his time of 21.56, while freshman Cole Beck set a new PR with his time of 21.77 to finish fifth.
"Davenport ran his second-fastest time ever in the indoor," Vaught said. "I felt like that was a big push forward for him. Beck ran a personal best, and he didn't get out well. He has huge upside, and once he puts it together, he's going to do pretty good in the 200, as well as the 60."
THROWS
Junior Isaiah Rogers finished fourth in the shot put at the Black and Gold Premier with his throw of 17.26 meters (56 feet, 7.5 inches), while freshman Tyson Jones threw a mark of 17.24 meters (56 feet, 6.75 inches) to earn a fifth-place finish.
UP NEXT
Tech plays host for the Virginia Tech "Doc Hale" Elite Meet at Rector Field House. The action begins on Friday and will run through Saturday afternoon.
PERSONAL BESTS
Men's 60 hurdles
Sean Murphy (8.80)
Men's Pole Vault
Sean Murphy (3.30 meters; 10 feet, 10 inches)
Men's 1,000
Sean Murphy (2:49.74)
Men's 200
Jacory Patterson (20.84)
Cole Beck (21.77)
Men's Weight Throw
Isaiah Rogers (20.31 meters; 66 feet, 11 inches)
Women's 200
Kennedy Dennis (23.73)
Imagine Patterson (24.94)
Women's Triple Jump
Eszter Bajnok (13.04 meters; 42 feet, 9.5 inches)
DAY 1 (BOB POLLOCK INVITATIONAL & BLACK and GOLD PREMIER)
Rachel Baxter won her third consecutive pole vault event in as many weeks, and the Virginia Tech track and field teams combined for seven top-eight finishes at the Bob Pollock Invitational and Black and Gold Premier held in Clemson, South Carolina and Iowa City, Iowa, respectively.
Baxter got the Hokies their first event title of the day when the sophomore cleared a height of 4.37 meters (14 feet, 4 inches). With that vault, she set a new personal best and is now tied for third all-time at Tech with Victoria von Eynatten. This was the third straight week in which Baxter has reset her own PR, and she currently holds the best mark in the ACC and fourth-best mark nationally.
SPRINTS
Sophomore Kennedy Dennis posted a time of 7.30 seconds in the preliminaries of the 60 to place second and secure a spot in the finals, where she went on to place fourth with a time 7.30.
"It's great that Kennedy is running 7.30 in back-to-back weekends, that's amazing," Tech sprints coach Tim Vaught said. "If she keeps running the way she's been running, she's going to run a low 7.20 at conference."
Freshman Nykah Smith had the second-fastest time of all collegiate athletes with her time of 54.95 and had her second-straight week with a sub 55-second 400.
"Nykah, she's a fighter man," Vaught said. "She executed her race and just kept fighting at the end. She passed an unattached girl, who was really good in the home stretch, to win her heat. I'm just really proud of her because she fought until the end."
Cole Beck finished third in the preliminaries of the 60 with his time of 6.89 and went on to place second in the finals with his time of 6.80.
Freshman Miles Green placed eighth in the 400 and set a new PR with his time of 48.48, while junior Michael Davenport finished right behind with his time of 48.57 to secure a ninth-place finish.
"Miles executed the first part of the race," Vaught said. "He ran a second faster than he did last weekend and executed a lot better this time, but there is still a lot more improvement in him."
"It was a great day for Davenport," Vaught said. "He's not a 400 runner, but I threw him in there to get a little bit stronger for the 200. He ran 48 seconds, so that was good for him as well."
THROWS
Newcomer Isaiah Rogers set a new personal best in the weight throw with his mark of 20.27 meters (66 feet, 6 inches) to finish sixth in the event.
UP NEXT
Both Tech squads return to action Saturday for the final day of the Bob Pollock Invitational and the Black and Gold Premier. Action in Clemson starts at 9 a.m. with the remainder of the heptathlon, while the throws will get started at 2 p.m. in Iowa.
PERSONAL BESTS
Men's 60
Sean Murphy (7.33)
Donovan Louis (6.96)
Men's 400
Miles Green (48.48)
Men's Long Jump
Donovan Louis (6.73 meters; 11 feet, 1 inch)
Men's shot put
Sean Murphy (10.97 meters; 36 feet, 0 inches)
Men's weight throw
Isaiah Rogers (20.31 meters; 66 feet, 11 inches)
