Blue Devils Cap First Day at Virginia Tech Challenge

Friday, February 20

Blacksburg, Va.

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Duke University

Day One at Virginia Tech Challenge

Blue Devils Cap First Day at Virginia Tech Challenge

2/20/2015 9:40:00 PM | Track & Field

By: Duke Sports Information

BLACKSBURG, Va. – A number of Duke track and field athletes turned in strong performances during the first day of the Virginia Tech Challenge in Blacksburg, Va., with multiple top-10 finishes. Senior Ian Rock placed first in the men's pole vault unseeded competition, while redshirt junior Teddi Maslowski besting her own Duke record in the women's 60m hurdles.

In the field events, Rock claimed the lone first-place finish for the Blue Devils, clearing 16-2.75 (4.95) in the men's pole vault to top all competitors, while freshman Tanner Johnson registered a vault of 14-3.25 to tie for fifth. In the men's triple jump, graduate student Alex Jebb earned fifth place with a leap of 45-5.00 (13.84).

Starting the day off for the Blue Devils on the track, junior Jon Michael Hilsheimer placed fourth in the men's 1,000m, clocking a time of 2:32.92. The Columbus, Ohio, native was the early leader in the race, pacing the group at 1:28.60 through 600 meters.

The next event on the track was the 600m races, with senior Jessica Buttinger taking sixth on the women's side and sophomore Michael Wilson finishing fifth among the men. Wilson led his heat from start to finish, crossing the line in a personal-best time of 1:22.39, while Buttinger, also registering the best race of her career, finished in a time of 1:39.21.

In the women's 60m hurdles preliminary heats, Maslowski produced the fastest time among the field on her way to breaking her own school record. The redshirt junior out of Burgettstown, Pa., clocked a time of 8.46, 0.02 seconds faster than her previous personal best of 8.48 she ran two weeks ago at the Virginia Tech Elite Meet. Teammate Karli Johonnot added her name to the Duke record books in the event, as well, finishing the race in 8.85 for the fifth-fastest time in school history.

Sophomore Gina Daniel and junior Allison Sturges each notched career bests in the women's mile, taking 13^th and 18^th with times of 5:05.63 and 5:09.69, respectively, while senior Chloe Maleski placed 17^th with a time of 5:08.95. After taking an early lead in her heat, Daniel reclaimed the top spot in the final 200 meters to place first in her section. On the men's side, freshman Sean Kelly produced the fastest time of his rookie season to place fifth in the men's mile, crossing the line in 4:06.72.

In the men's 800m, a trio of Blue Devils turned in personal-best times to earn top-six finishes. Freshman Kyle Francis led the pack with a time of 1:52.17 to take second, followed by sophomore Dylan Murphy placing fourth in 1:52.92. Freshman Jordan Burton rounded out the race for Duke by finishing sixth, clocking a time of 1:53.47.

Junior Christian Vail wrapped up the track events for Duke, running a career-best time of 23.49 in the men's 200m to finish 14^th overall.

The Blue Devils will return to Rector Field House for the second and final day of the Virginia Tech Challenge Saturday. Competition will begin with field events at 11 a.m., while running events are slated for a 1 p.m. start.

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