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NEW ORLEANS, La. – Six Virginia Tech track & field student-athletes have been named first team All-Americans for the 2012 outdoor season, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Tuesday. The Hokies also had seven additional student-athletes named to the second team.

USTFCCCA first team All-America honors are awarded to those who earn any portion of a team point at the national championships, or reach an eight-entrant final. Tech’s six first team All-Americans include: junior Alexander Ziegler (hammer throw, NCAA champion), junior Matthias Treff (javelin throw, third), senior Michael Hammond (1500 meters, fourth), senior Hasheem Halim (triple jump, fourth), sophomore Darrell Wesh (100 meters, fourth) and redshirt senior Joe Davis (pole vault, seventh).

Ziegler won his second straight national title in the hammer throw and garnered his sixth career first team All-America accolade.

Earning second team honors for finishing between places ninth through 16th at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa were: junior Ronnie Black (high jump, ninth), junior Jeff Artis-Gray (long jump, 13th), the men’s 4x100 meter relay team of Artis-Gray, Wesh, junior Jonathan McCants and senior Keith Ricks (13th), freshman Martina Schultze (pole vault, tied-13th), freshman Valentina Muzaric (shot put, 14th) and redshirt senior Hunter Hall (pole vault, 16th).

In addition, Ricks (100 meters, 19th and 200 meters, 20th), senior Will Mulherin (5000 meters, 21st), redshirt junior Sammy Dow (3000 meter steeplechase, 23rd) and junior Denis Mahmic (hammer throw) were tabbed honorable mention for the award for their participation in the national championship.

As a team, the Hokie men matched the program’s best ever finish at national as they placed fifth with 33 points.

Virginia Tech’s NCAA Championship Results Recap

Men
Alexander Ziegler - hammer throw, National Champion (248-7, 75.78m), personal best
Matthias Treff - javelin throw, 3rd (248-9, 75.83m), season best
Michael Hammond - 1500 meters, 4th (3:40.27 semifinals, 3:44.47 final)
Hasheem Halim - triple jump, 4th (54-1.25, 16.49m), school record, personal best
Darrell Wesh - 100 meters, 4th (10.15 semifinals, school record; 10.30 final)
Joe Davis - pole vault, 7th (17-8.5, 5.40m), personal best
Ronnie Black - high jump, 9th (7-2.5, 2.20m)
Jeff Artis-Gray - long jump, 13th (24-6.5, 7.48m)
4x100 meter relay - Jeff Artis-Gray, Darrell Wesh, Jonathan McCants, Keith Ricks, 13th (39.62), school record
Hunter Hall - pole vault, 16th (17-4.5, 5.30m)
Keith Ricks - 100 meters, 19th (10.27) and 200 meters, 20th (20.96)
Will Mulherin - 5000 meters, 21st (14:30.11)
Denis Mahmic - hammer throw, NP (Foul)

Women
Martina Schultze - pole vault, t13th (13-7.25, 4.15m)
Valentina Muzaric - shot put, 14th (53-3.5, 16.24m)
Sammy Dow - 3000 meter steeplechase, 23rd (10:49.92)

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