BLACKSBURG – Saturday – Following an impressive first day of the Hokie Invitational, the Virginia Tech track and field squad performed just as well with standout performances from Tyson Jones in the shot put, Cole Beck in the 200m, and KJ Moore in the long jump. Jones recorded a PR 62' 10" throw, best in the ACC this season, while KJ Moore scored another PR with a 24' 5.5" long jump.
"The team took a big step forward from last week, and I was really happy with the effort across the board, Director of Track and Field Dave Cianelli said. "Patrick's school record in the 500 meters, and the men's and women's 1000-meter crew and the Men's 4x400 were outstanding. In the field, Tyson Jones' PR in the shot put and Sara Killinen's first meet as a Hokie in the weight throw were highlights along with Rachel in the Pole Vault."
Other winners on Saturday were Cole Beck, who ran a 21.48 200m to place first in the event, and Jacob Rice, who cleared 16' 4.75" to top all other collegiate pole vaulters.
The meet finished with a fantastic 4x400m relay on the men's side, as the efforts of Patrick Forrest, Tyreke Sapp, Miles Green, and Jacory Patterson delivered the Hokies a win in the event with a time of 3:08.96. Only 1.1 seconds slower than the Rector Field House record that was set in 1999, the relay clocked in as the fourth fastest 4x400 in the nation this season.
After the weekend's events across the country, Patrick Forrest's 1:02.79 500m is officially the fastest time in the country this season, joining Jacory Patterson in the 300m as the two Hokies with top marks in the United States.
The Hokies will return to action in partial numbers next weekend, as the pole vault crew travels to Clemson to compete in the Bob Pollock Meet. From Feb. 5-6, the whole team will compete again in the VT Elite Meet back at Rector Field House in Blacksburg.
BLACKSBURG – Friday – In the second meet of the season, the Hokies delivered impressive performances, event wins, and school records. Patrick Forrest took the top spot in Tech 500m history with a 1:02.79, and freshman Sara Killinen moved into fifth place all time in the weight throw with a monster 63' 9.75" (19.45m).
Patrick Forrest's 500m breaks a 17-year-old record, set in 2004 by Adam Jury. The senior previously owned the second-best time in Virginia Tech history, and now holds the crown as the fastest 500m runner the Hokies have ever had.
"On the men's side Patrick Forrest ran a strong 500m race to break our school record," Associate Head Coach Tim Vaught said. "We talked about breaking this record all fall, and it feels good to finally accomplish it."
Sara Killinen was planning on competing unattached until a few hours before the meet, then on her first throw of the event and as a Virginia Tech athlete she moved all the way into fifth for the women's weight throw.
"I thought Sara did an outstanding job in her first meet as a freshman," Associate Head Coach Andrew Dubs said. "She was very poised and competed well against a strong field."
Aside from the record-setting escapades of Forrest and Killinen, multiple other Hokies put in strong individual efforts on day one of the Hokie Invitational. Lindsey Butler earned another event win with her 1:30.94 time in the 600m, Matt Mitchell won the 60m hurdles for the second week in a row with a time of 8.14 seconds, and Rachel Baxter reached a season best 14' 3.25" to beat all other collegiate pole vaulters.
Action resumes for the Hokies tomorrow morning for day two of the Hokie invitational. Multi events are set to get underway at 9:30 a.m., field events begin at noon, and running events will start at 1:45 p.m.Gallery: (1-23-2021) 2021 TRACK & FIELD HOKIE INVITATIONAL
