Tweet

EUGENE, Ore. – Day one of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships saw sophomores Chris Uhle and Annjulie Vester earn the first All-America honors of their young careers at historic Hayward Field.

Annjulie Vester opened up the championships for the Hokies and looked ready as she came up with what appeared to be some big throws during warm-ups. On her first throw, the reigning two-time ACC champion produced a throw of 201-5 (61.41m), coming up less than two feet shy of her personal best. After not moving up on her second attempt, the sophomore was passed as she was sitting in ninth place overall.

Knowing that she had to post a big PR on her last attempt to reach the finals, Vester went for it, but was unable to keep hammer from hitting the netting on the right side. She finished eighth in flight two and 13^th overall to earn second-team All-America honors in her first appearance at the national meet.

A couple hours later, Chris Uhle made his nationals debut in the men’s pole vault. The sophomore who steamrolled through the NCAA East prelims going a perfect five-for-five, cleared both 16-8½ (5.10m) and his PR of 17-2¾ (5.25m) on his first attempts. Uhle was unable to clear 17-8½ (5.40m), but not after giving it everything he had on his final vault. He finished deadlocked with five other vaulters for 15^th, which like Vester, earned him second team All-America honors.

Amongst a blazing fast times that saw the final qualifier in the 100 meters clock in at 10.08, Darrell Wesh was not able to advance to Friday’s finals after finishing seventh overall in the second heat at 10.34.

On the docket for the Hokies tomorrow are Tomas Kruzliak and Denis Mahmic in the men’s hammer throw beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET. Jeff Artis-Gray in the long jump and Grant Pollock in the 1,500 meters will both start at 7:30 p.m.

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