Members of N.C . State’s track and field team will be looking to build on their positive start at the Virginia Tech Invitational as they head into Blacksburg, Va . for the Hokie Invitational.

Despite a couple of second-place finishes in the weight throw event last week, which saw the Pack net three out of the top seven positions in both men’s and women’s categories, it was the jumpers who stole the show with some impressive individual performances, setting the tone for the rest of the season.

Long jumper and freshman Reuben Malone from Lillington , who won the triple jump in his first collegiate meet last week, felt his success was unexpected.

“It was a big surprise, I was just hoping I could jump as far as I could in high school,” Malone said. “Usually the first meet is the worst meet of the season because you’ve got to try to get better or whatever. But it was a great experience and one of the best days of my life.”

Malone said he felt he had been working harder before coming to college and that had helped him perform better.

“The biggest change is just the workouts and stuff,” Malone said. “In high school, I did not work anywhere near as hard as I am now in college. The training is harder, more consistent and I think that’s one of the biggest causes of change [in my performance].”

Three-time All-ACC high jumper junior Kris Kornegay-Gober , who recorded his personal best at last week’s meet, felt it was a clear indication of the direction he was heading in.

“I am feeling good; I am getting closer to my goal,” Kornegay-Gober said. “My goal is to automatically qualify for the indoor championships, and that’s a 7-foot-4 1/4-inch [jump]. So it’s great to get a new personal best so early this year so that way I can build up.”

Kornegay-Gober said he was going to stick to the basics and looks to build on his performance from last week going into the weekend.

“[Practice] hasn’t really changed much,” Kornegay-Gober said. “This week I am going to be stretching and heating up a lot to get my muscles loose to jump because my muscles have been tight for few weeks now. I am just going to make sure they are loose and I feel really good.”

Kornegay-Gober said he had clear goals for the season and he was working hard to achieve them.

“I actually do have Olympic dreams,” Kornegay-Gober said. “So if I even get the opportunity to go to the Olympic trials this year, I will be happy.”

Chris Coleman, assistant coach for jumps, felt his team’s performance last week was both expected and surprising at the same time.

“[ Kornegay-Gober ] is a returner and his jump was something we have been planning for a long while,” Coleman said. “[Malone] was little bit of a surprise, I thought he would jump a high 49 or 50 feet but beating your personal best by 2-feet-8-inches is just unheard of. It was a good performance by everybody.”

Coleman said the team didn’t have a lot of high-intensity practices in order to stay fresh for the weekend’s meet at Virginia Tech.

“We actually relaxed a bit because we went hard the week before,” Coleman said. “We are relaxing so we can reproduce the same marks we did last week.”

Coleman also revealed he was fully focused on sending most of his athletes for the NCAA championships at the end of the season.

“I am trying to get as many people as I can to the national championships,” Coleman said. “That’s the goal.”

The Hokie Invitational is a two-day-long meet, beginning Friday at 5 p.m . at Virginia Tech’s Rector Field.