Virginia Tech pole vaulter Rachel Baxter set a new school indoor track and field record and personal best in winning the pole vault competition at the New Mexico Invitational held Saturday in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Baxter, a junior from Orange, California, cleared 4.53 meters (14 feet, 10.25 inches) on her second attempt and easily beat Nevada's Gabrielle Palmer for the title. Palmer's top vault was 4.10 meters (13 feet, 5.25 inches).
Baxter attempted 4.60 meters, but missed on all three attempts. She broke her own school record of 4.47 meters (14 feet, 8 inches), which she set last year at the ACC Championships held at Rector Field House last February.
On the men's side, two Tech vaulters finished in the top five of the event, and a former Tech vaulter – Deakin*Volz, who competed unattached – came in second. Volz actually tied Arizona State's Cole Riddle with a top vault of 5.45 meters (17 feet, 10.5 inches), but finished second on progressions.
Tech's Harrison Rice was third with a top vault of 5.25 meters (17 feet, 2.75 inches), while the Hokies' Jacob Rice came in fifth with a top vault of 5.05 meters (16 feet, 6.75 inches). Both Harrison and Jacob Rice set personal bests in the competition.
"I was extremely proud of the way the entire group competed," Tech pole vault coach Bob Phillips said. "There were a couple of rough spots, but everyone did a good job of making adjustments during the competition."
Student-athletes from both Tech track and field teams return to the track Friday at the Doc Hale Elite Meet, which will be held Friday and Saturday at Rector Field House.
