The Wolfpack track and field team competed in the Hokie Invitational over the weekend. The two-day event produced good results for both the men’s and women’s teams.
The Hokie Invitational featured 10 teams, of which the state of North Carolina had five universities in action. The University of Central Florida also made the journey to Virginia Tech to compete in the event.
“Well everything we do prior to the conference is to prepare for the conference and prepare our athletes,” said head coach Rollie Geiger. “It’s a goal to qualify athletes for not only a conference championship, but to qualify athletes to a national championship.”
On day one of the event, the women’s track team from University of South Carolina dominated the competition by placing 15 top-five finishes. The UNC-Charlotte team also had a strong showing with eight top-five finishes. The N.C. State women were third with six top-finishes in the first day of the event.
Senior jumper Karimah Shepherd set a personal best 42’ 4.25” in the triple jump. Her attempt was good enough to place second in the school’s all-time records. Shepherd battled with North Carolina’s Briana Hudson, until finally setting herself apart on the sixth and final jump.
“It was a good meet for us,” said Geiger. “Karimah was just terrific; that was her best jump in college and she came close to getting a mark that will get her into the national championships.”
In her first indoor track meet, junior mid-distance runner and 2011 All-American Kenyetta Iyevbele placed third in the 1000-meter race.
On the first day of the men’s events, The University of South Carolina placed 16 top-five finishes. UNCC and Virginia Tech tied with 10 top-five finishes, while the Pack had four.
Two of N.C. State’s top five finishes came from redshirt sophomore middle distance runner John Wolfe. Wolfe placed third in both the 1000-meter run and the mile run.
The Wolfpack posted several top-five finishes on the second and final day of the Hokie Invitational.
Senior high jumper Kris Kornegay-Gober tied his personal best in the high jump with 7’ 4.25”, which earned second place. Kornegay-Gober’s jump also tied the school record in high jump that he set earlier in his career.
In the 200-meter dash, freshman sprinter Jonathan Addison took fifth place with a time of 22.07 while senior sprinter Austin Jackson notched a fifth place finish in the 400-meter dash.
The women’s track and field also ended the two day event on a positive note with six top-five finishes.
Junior high jumper Elizabeth Shuman jumped a collegiate-best 5’ 10.75” to earn second place, while senior Danielle Adams placed fifth in the same event.
Redshirt sophomore thrower Tremanisha Taylor placed third in the women’s shot put. Taylor’s throw travelled 49’ 10”.
Collectively, the 19th ranked Pack men’s track and field team had 11 top-five finishes, while the women placed 12 times in the top-five.
Next weekend, State’s track and field teams will travel to Winston-Salem for the Hilton Garden Invitational. Geiger is hoping to use the next meet as another chance to develop his team.
“We are going to prepare for a conference championship and that competition in Winston-Salem is just going to help us prepare,” said Geiger.
