Deacon runners compete at Va. Tech
By Alannah DiBona
Old Gold and Black Reporter

> February 16, 2001

The Demon Deacon men’s track and field team, wrought with injuries and illnesses since the beginning of the indoor season, competed at full strength at the Valentine Invitational, held Feb. 9-10 at Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg, Va.

Though slowed by a stomach virus early in the season, junior Cliff Neal made a strong showing in the 35-pound weight throw, upping his career best by one inch with a throw of 57’3”.

“I just got my rhythm back this week,” said Neal of his performance, which earned him seventh place overall.

Freshman Zach Hamilton also achieved a personal best for the indoor pole vault with a height of 14’7”.

Hamilton said that “analyizing my approach in practice” and changing it from a “fast, cycling style to one based on driving forward” added power to his takeoff, which in turn added height to the vault.

In the triple jump, freshman T.J. Thompson paced the Deacons at 45’7”, taking 16th place in the event.

Junior J.T. Kuretich raised his season-best mark in the long jump with a leap of 22’7” en route to a 21st-place finish.

Individual performances highlighted the meet, but the effects of nagging injuries were evident in the Deacons’ overall performance.

“Having so many key people sick and injured early on hurt us, but now that they’re back, we’re getting better” said Hamilton.

Neal added that “Injuries have definitely been a problem, but we’re battling.”

The women’s track team competed in the meet as well and freshman Carol Merritt certainly made her mark, as she broke her own school record in the 200-meter run with a time of 24.86. Senior Jill Snyder won the mile run with a time of 4:51:36.

Fellow freshman Adralyn Wendel was impressive as well, finishing fourth in the 1000-meter run with a time of 3:00:94.

Junior Sandra Jenkins put the shot 43’7”, which was good enough for 10th place.

Now at full strength, both teams will look forward to the ACC Indoor Championships, which will take place on the same course at Virginia Tech on Feb. 16-17.

Assistant sports editor Daniel Ogle contributed to this article.