Two weeks ago, Virginia Tech's Track and Field team walked into the National Championships in Des Moines, Iowa after the women had just won their second East Regional title and the men's team came off its best performance yet.
Despite recent accomplishments, the Hokies hit a speed bump in the opening days of the national meet when two top performers were injured.
Sophomore Queen Harrison was ranked second in the nation during the year but injured her left hamstring during the third leg of the 4x100 meter relay. Her injury prohibited her from competing in the remainder of the event.
Kristi Castlin came to Des Moines ranked third in the nation. Castlin re-aggravated a leg strain while practicing for the 100m hurdles on the second day of the meet and did not compete for the rest of the championships.
"With those two out that really took any chance we had at placing in the top 10," said head coach Dave Cianelli. "We didn't place as high as our expectations were, but everyone that was healthy preformed very well."
"Injuries happen and you have to deal with them," Cianelli said. The women's team pushed forward, even after losing Harrison and Castlin, to finish in a 10-way tie for 31st.
After the beginning of the first two days, five women and three men advanced to the final round of the NCAA National Championships.
Senior Sherlenia Green just missed qualifying for finals in the 400-meter hurdles by 0.20 seconds. The 4x400 meter relay, run by Green, senior Britni Spruill, junior Shakirra Pinnock, and sophomore Asia Washington, finished 15th overall in the semifinals.
"Strength-wise we got a little banged up, we weren't able to perform as we would like to in the sprint relay and the hurdle event," said women's head coach Lawrence Johnson.
"Overall, the women's team is our biggest group ever to the national meet," Johnson said. "It was still a good showing."
Redshirt junior Brittany Pryor and redshirt senior Kristen Callan led the women's team in the hammer throw earning two top-10 finishes.
Pryor garnered her fourth All-American recognition after finishing in seventh place and set a personal best at a distance of 208'1''. She also participated in the shot put taking 11th with a throw of 51 feet 6.25 inches.
Callan also gained her fourth All-American honor after finishing ninth with 205'10''.
Redshirt freshman Kelly Phillips finished sixth place in the women's pole vault by clearing a season-best of 13'5.25'' earning her first All-American honor.
Junior Tasmin Fanning earned an All-American honor as well by finishing sixth in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 15:54.38.
The men's team completed the National Championships in 20th place, and earned All-American honors.
Sophomore Yavjeniy Olhovsky earned his second All-American recognition through a second place tie in the men's pole vault.
Junior Matej Muza was the second to earn an All-American recognition during the men's hammer throw. Muza took fifth place after throwing a personal best of 229'1''.
Men's track and field was concluded as redshirt senior Justin Clickett earned the Hokies' final All-American recognition with a sixth place finish in the men's shot put at 60-9.25. This was his fourth time being named an All-American.
"It was really an outstanding meet for the men's program" Johnson said. "We're not up to full speed in our men's program just yet, but it was a tremendous showing for three or four individuals."
"The direction for the men and women's teams is a very positive direction," Johnson said. "We return all those All-Americans from this year on the women's team, and we have a great signing class coming in, our future is very bright."
The next competition for the track and field team is the US Olympic Trials beginning this weekend in Eugene, Ore. from June 27 to July 6.
Harrison and Castlin are expected to compete in the trials. Harrison will be participating in the 400-meter hurdles with Green, and could be expected to compete in the 100-meter hurdle with Castlin.
Other Hokies who will compete include Pryor and Callan in the hammer throw, Fanning in the 5,000-meter run, and Clickett in the shot put.
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