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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Seniors Hunter Hall (pole vault) and Joe Davis (pole vault), senior Michael Hammond (1500 meters), junior Ronnie Black (high jump), senior Keith Ricks (200 meters), senior Will Mulherin (5000 meters) and the men's 4x100 meter relay team qualified for the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship Saturday as the Virginia Tech men's and women's track & field teams competed on the third and final day of the NCAA East Preliminary Round at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida.

Tech will send a total of 16 individuals - 13 men and three women - to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa in two weeks. 15 individuals will compete in 16 events as Ricks (100 meters and 200 meters) is the lone Hokie to qualify in multiple individual events. The men also qualified the 4x100 meter relay to nationals as three members of that quartet - sophomore Darrell Wesh (100 meters), junior Jeff Artis-Gray (long jump) and Ricks - will also participate in individual events.

Saturday's action for Tech was highlighted by Hall and Black, who each finished first in their respective events, and Ricks, who reset his own school record in the 200 meters for the second time in as many days.

Black was impressive en route to winning the high jump with a mark of 7-2.25 (2.19m) and obtaining his bid to the NCAA Championship. He was the only man in the field to keep a clean sheet throughout the competition as he had first attempt clearances at 2.07m, 2.12m, 2.16m and 2.19m. Black's mark also set the facility record at Hodges Stadium.

Ricks reset his own school record in the 200 meters for the second time this weekend as he won heat three of the quarterfinals in 20.45 and earned a bid to nationals in a second individual event. He ran 20.46 in the first round and also qualified in the 100 meters (10.23) yesterday.

The men's 4x100 meter relay team of Artis-Gray, Wesh, junior Jonathan McCants and Ricks finished third in heat three in a time of 40.07 to grab an automatic qualifying spot to nationals. The quartet ran the second fastest time in Tech history in the event as the same group ran the school record of 39.95 at the ACC Championship in Charlottesville in April.

Mulherin earned a trip to Iowa as he won the first heat of the 5000 meters in 14:17.45, outkicking a group of five men to the finish line. Also in the 5k, freshman Thomas Curtin was 15th in heat two in 14:25.06.

In the men's pole vault, Hall and Davis both cleared 17-5.5 (5.32m) to secure a spot at the national championship. Hall was one of only two men who kept a clean sheet throughout the competition as he had first attempt makes at 5.02m, 5.17m, 5.27m and 5.32m. He tied for first with Notre Dame's Kevin Schipper and claimed a first place finish for the sixth time this season. Davis also looked strong as he tied for sixth place with an outdoor personal best mark of 5.32m that moves him into a tie for No. 7 all-time at Tech.

Also in the men's pole vault, freshman Chris Uhle and senior Mike Miller each cleared the opening height of 15-11.75 (4.87m), before faltering at 16-5.5 (5.02m).

In the men's 1500 meter quarterfinals, Hammond finished fifth in heat one in a time of 3:46.31 to claim the automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. Senior Chris Walizer ran 3:47.49, but was ninth in the first heat, while redshirt freshman Grant Pollock did not finish.

The women's 4x100 meter squad of junior Jameice DeCoster, freshman Ciara Simms, senior Aunye Boone and senior Ogechi Nwaneri clocked a season best 45.32 and finished fourth in heat one, 17th overall.

Freshman Annjulie Vester was 15th in the women's hammer with a mark of 185-6 (56.55m) and freshman Luka Mustafic was 26th in the men's shot put at 56-11.25 (17.35m). Freshman Sarah Rapp was 14th in heat two of the women's 5000 meters (16:51.74).

Although Artis-Gray did not finish his 110 meter hurdle quarterfinal after clipping a hurdle, he will compete in the long jump at nationals and as the lead leg of the 4x100 meter relay.

The top-48 declared student-athletes in each individual event and the top-24 declared relays qualified for the East and West preliminary meets. The West Preliminary Round is at the University of Texas. The top-12 student-athletes and relays from each region then advance to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship at Drake in Des Moines, Iowa, from June 6-9. In the combined events, the top-24 declared student-athletes advanced directly to the NCAA Championship at Drake.

Virginia Tech's NCAA Championship Qualifiers

Men (13)
Matthias Treff - javelin throw
Jeff Artis-Gray - long jump
Alexander Ziegler - hammer throw
Denis Mahmic - hammer throw
Darrell Wesh - 100 meters
Keith Ricks - 100 meters and 200 meters
Hasheem Halim - triple jump
Joe Davis - pole vault
Hunter Hall - pole vault
Michael Hammond - 1500 meters
Ronnie Black - high jump
Will Mulherin - 5000 meters
4x100 meter relay - Jeff Artis-Gray, Darrell Wesh, Jonathan McCants, Keith Ricks

Women (3)
Valentina Muzaric - shot put
Martina Schultze - pole vault
Sammy Dow - 3000 meter steeplechase

For updates on Virginia Tech track & field, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Track).