Saturday, January 12, 2008

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Jan. 12, 2008) - The ETSU men's and women's track and field team concluded competition at the Virginia Tech Invitational Saturday afternoon from Rector Field House in Blacksburg.

Battling stiff competition in their first meet of the 2008 season, a few members of the ETSU track and field squad were still able to garner personal bests at the meet. The field which included Tennessee and six ACC schools in Clemson, Duke, Maryland, Virginia, host Virginia Tech and Wake Forest gave the Bucs an early season test.

"Our team went up against some stiff competition this weekend, but it was nice to see some of our athletes come away with personal bests in their respective events," said associate head track and field coach Michele Byrne. "It is early in the season and our squad needs to be able to build off each of these meets."

Sophomore sensation Zachlynn Blackburn (Tazewell, Va.) was the main highlight on the day for the women. Blackburn won her Flight in the shot put with a heave of 40-01.50 (12.23m) and placed 17^th overall, as a handful of competitors from the ACC finished above her.

On the men's side senior Dave Thomas (Maryville, Tenn.) set a new personal best in the pole vault. Thomas finished with a mark of 14-07.50, which beat out his previous post of 14-07.25 set at last season's Atlantic Sun Championships. A pair of freshmen in Mike James (Palm Bay, Fla.) and Zach Titman (Damascus, Va.) each recorded respectable times in the 200-meter dash. Titman posted a season-best mark of 23.04, while James' 23.07 set a season-low.  

The Bucs will now return home and host the 30^th annual Niswonger Invitational next weekend. The meet kicks off Friday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. inside Memorial Center on the David E. Walker track.

For more information on ETSU track and field and the Niswonger Invitational, visit www.ETSUBucs.com.