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BLACKSBURG – Kristi Castlin isn’t the only athlete with Virginia Tech ties to make waves on the international stage.

Castlin received a lot of attention qualifying for her first Olympic team after finishing second in the finals of the 100-meter hurdles on Saturday at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials held July 1-10 in Eugene, Oregon. But the seven-time All-American from 2007-2010 and three-time silver medalist at NCAA events is just one of several doing well on the international stage.

Marek Barta, a rising senior, won the discus event at the Czech Republic National Championships earlier this summer with a toss of 59.89 meters (196 feet, 6 inches). Also, at the Czech Republic National Championships, Pavla Kuklova, a rising sophomore who was the ACC silver medalist at the league’s outdoor meet, came in third in the hammer throw with a personal-best toss of 61.61 meters (202 feet, 1 inch).

Torben Laidig finished third in the pole vault at the German National Championships. Laidig, a rising sophomore who was the silver medalist at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, came in third with a vault of 5.45 meters (17 feet, 10.5 inches).

Incoming recruit Eszter Bajnok from Kethely, Hungary recently won both the long jump and triple jump at the Hungarian Junior National Championships. She won the long time with a leap of 6.45 meters (21 feet, 2 inches) and the triple jump with a jump of 13.12 meters (43 feet, 0.5 inch). Her long jump ranks sixth in the world for athletes under 20 years old.

Two former Tech student-athletes dominated the hammer throw at the Slovakian National Championships. Marcel Lomnicky, who won the national title in the hammer throw and the weight throw during his career from 2009-12, came in first with a throw of 76.87 meters (252 feet, 2 inches). Kruzliak, a 2013 national champion in the hammer throw who just wrapped up his career as a Hokie, came in third with a toss of 68.32 meters (224 feet, 2 inches).

All of these international athletes would need to reach their respective countries’ Olympic qualifying standard to make their native nation’s Olympic team.

On the domestic front, the Hokies’ incoming recruits fared well during the high school season, which ended in mid-June. Eight of those recruits won at least one state championship, while several won multiple state crowns.

Michael Davenport from Woodberry Forest School in Woodberry Forest, Virginia won the 100 and 200 at the Virginia Independent Schools Championships, while Brandon Thomas from St. Christopher’s Academy in Richmond, Virginia won the 400 and was part of the winning 4x400 relay team at that same meet.

Mikayla Richardson won three state titles for Blacksburg High, claiming gold in the 800, the 1,600 and as a part of the 4x800 relay at the Class 3A Championships. Sara Freix from Westfield High in Chantilly, Virginia won the 3,200 and finished second in the 1,600 at the Virginia Class 6A Championships – the state’s highest classification. Also, Amanda Thomas from Western Branch High in Chesapeake, Virginia was third in the 800 at the Class 6A Championships and was a part of the winning 4x800 and 4x400 relay teams.

Tech’s staff is bringing in two prominent South Carolina standouts in Arlicia Bush from Ridge View High in Columbia, South Carolina and Laurie Barton from Daniel High in Central, South Carolina. Bush won the 400 at the Class 4A Championships and finished fifth in the 400 at the New Balance Outdoor Championships with a personal-best time of 53.59 seconds. Barton won the 800 at the Class 4A Championships and was part of the 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams that finished second. She also made the MileStat All-America Girls Team as an 800-meter runner.

Another prominent out-of-state signee is Sarah Edwards from Bellingham High in Bellingham, Massachusetts. She won the 800 at the Massachusetts state championships.

Most of the track roster will report to campus in mid-August to begin training for the upcoming season. Classes begin Aug. 22.

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