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January 25, 2022
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PAGE 2 January 25, 2022
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COVID-19 UPDATE Gov. Youngkin announces COVID-19 action plan as omicron cases decline The plan includes encouraging vaccinations, expanding healthcare flexibility and prioritizing testing. JANE PARK news writer
On Thursday, Jan. 20, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced his COVID-19 Action Plan. Part of this plan is the COVID-19 Vaccine Marshall Plan for Virginia, where further resources and efforts will be implemented to encourage the nearly 1.6 million unvaccinated Virginians to receive the vaccine. Yo u n g k i n p r ev i o u s l y signed Executive Order Number Two, which relaxed vaccine mandates for state employees. As a result, Virginia Tech
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no longer requires faculty and staff to be vaccinated nor participate in testing. In addition to the Vaccine Marshall Plan, the governor has also signed Executive Order Number Eleven, which will support healthcare providers amid staffing shortages due to the pandemic and federal mandates on healthcare employees. Youngkin will also tackle the shortage of COVID-19 tests by dissuading testing for pre-screening purposes and for asymptomatic individuals. Healthy individuals with mild symptoms are advised to stay home. At a White House briefing on Friday, time to be the truth and reveal only that to their readers, but rather to report as completely and impartially as possible all verifiable facts so that readers can, based on their own knowledge and experience, determine what they believe to be the truth. When a news organization delivers both news and opinions, the impartiality and credibility of the news organization can be questioned. To minimize this as much as possible there needs to be a sharp and clear distinction between news and opinion, both to those providing and consuming the news.
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Jan. 21, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stated that the national number of COVID-19 cases are declining. This comes after nearly two months of a high number of cases due to the omicron wave, according to NBC News. From Jan. 14 to 20, Virginia Tech’s COVID-19 Dashboard shows that 1,131 tests were administered to students and faculty, 106 of which were positive. As of Jan. 21, Virginia has had an increase of 100,296 positive cases since the last CT update on Jan. 16, leaving the total at 1,451,713, according to WHSV. It was reported on Thursday that the death toll is now 15,852 — an additional 49 deaths since the last CT update on Jan. 16.
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January 25, 2022 PAGE 3
Virginia Tech public health panel reflects on COVID-19 pandemic The panel of university administrators and health experts discussed the challenges of a new semester amid the omicron variant. KAVYA SUNDARAPANDIAN assistant news editor
On Jan. 20, a panel of Virginia Tech officials and experts in airborne infectious diseases met to discuss the challenges of the spring semester, the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant and measures the university is taking to ensure the well-being of students and staff. Virginia Tech’s Associate Director of Visual Strategy, Dawn Jefferies, conducted and moderated the health panel. The panel included Frank Shushok Jr., vice president for student affairs; Br yan Garey, vice president for human resources; Molly O’Dell, adjunct professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences, who has also served as the lead of the pandemic response in Roanoke City
and Alleghany Health Districts; and Mike Mulhare, the assistant vice president for emergency management. Linsey Marr, the Charles P. Lunsford professor of civil and environmental engineering, who also specializes in the study of transmission of airborne diseases, also participated in the panel. Panel participants first discussed that, although COVID-19 and omicron variant cases are steadily increasing, Virginia Tech is still in good standing for the 2022 school year due to the policies put in place by the university. “We’re in the best possible position to start the semester with omicron right in our faces,” O’Dell said. With COVID-19 continuing to be a factor and Southwest Virginia lagging behind in vaccination rates, mask mandates have not changed from last semester. However, Marr said that an
upgrade in masks is needed to stop the easy transmission of the new strand. “Masks are an important tool, one of several tools that we are using to … try to control transmission or to reduce it,” Marr said. “While masks are not created equal, any mask is better than no mask and there are masks that are very protective.” Marr recommended students and staff start wearing higher protection masks called respirators, such as N95s, KN95s or KF94s. Another topic brought up during the discussion was the new executive order from Gov. Glenn Youngkin removing the vaccine mandate for faculty and staff in education. In president Tim Sands’ announcement, Virginia Tech employees will no longer be required to be vaccinated or report their vaccination status to the university and will no longer need to do the mandatory
COURTESY OF VTX A panel of Virginia Tech officials and experts including (top row left) Mike Mulhare, (top row right) Frank Shushok Jr., (bottom row from left) Molly O’Dell, (bottom row center) Bryan Garey and (bottom row right) Linsey Marr joined Dawn Jefferies (top row center) for an online conversation on the university’s public health strategies at the start of the spring semester.
COVID-19 testing. “The biggest change from the Governor’s Office was really directed at state employees,” Mulhare said. “So employees … are no longer required to be vaccinated or to be tested unless they want to test voluntarily.” Employe es a re st i l l st rongly encouraged to be vaccinated, according to Mulhare. “That’s why we do have a booster requirement for our students,” Shushok said when asked about keeping in-person classes for this semester. According to Shushok, Virginia Tech has also made student mental health a priority. “We’ve got double pandemics now; one of them is mental health and wellbeing and people have been really struggling,” Shushok said. Garey discussed many resources offered by Virginia Tech that students can take advantage of, such as Hokie Wellness and VT Better Together, the mental health campaign cur rently being promoted by Virginia Tech. Hokies are also encouraged to take small steps to promote their overall health, such as getting a good night’s rest and exercising. Vi rgin ia Tech st a ff a re a lso encouraged to reach out for help with mental health and wellness. Programs such as the Employee Assistance Program offered by Hokie Wellness staff can provide employees with counseling, financial and legal consulting and childcare. “We’ve been pretty clear that we are committed to an in-person experience this semester just like we did last semester,” Shushok said. “And if you remember back to last semester, we had challenges too but one of the consistent themes has been that we remain flexible and adaptable and we try to respond to the conditions that are in front of us.”
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Strengthen your community by shopping locally
Shopping locally allows communities to grow closer, betters the environment and improves our health and well-being.
ood is one of the most integral parts of human culture. All of us can recall a great meal we had and the time we spent making it, so because of this, where we tend to shop matters. Americans, by and large, shop at large supermarkets such as Kroger, Costco and Walmart. Most of the food we eat is also produced in America; however, according to the Food and Drug Administration, about 15% of all food in America is imported. The food we import, however, is telling, with 32% of vegetables, 55% of fresh fruit and 94% of seafood being imported from other countries into the United States. While these imports provide much-needed supplementation to locally grown products, more Americans should shop and eat locally. Local food can be any combination of agricultural products grown close to your home, and is often sold directly to you by the person who grew it. Local food is also often sold at smaller, more intimate places, such as farmers markets or through Community Supported Agricultures (CSA), where everyday people buy into a farm at the beginning of the growing season in exchange for a portion of the crop later in the season. These small places allow you to interact closely with the people growing your food and to support growers who have the same values as you. Likewise, shopping for food locally saves on both transportation and carbon costs. A 2003 study by the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems found that conventionally grown produce traveled on average nearly 1,500 miles to get to market. This travel time brings up a multitude of issues for farmers. For example, when factoring in travel time, many farmers will harvest produce like tomatoes early and allow it to ripen in transport. Furthermore, international
The Blacksburg Farmers Market, Oct. 20, 2021.
transportation often requires multiple forms of transport, adding to the emission of greenhouse gases. The same study found that locally produced food in the state of Iowa traveled an average of 56 miles to get to market, leading to the opposite effect. Growers are able to harvest at the peak of ripeness, bring products to market and lessen their greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, and arguably most importantly, buying food locally allows you to support your local community. Dollars spent in farmers markets are much more likely to stay in the local community rather than going to a large farmer hundreds or even thousands of miles away. For example, a study conducted in Salt Lake City, Utah, found that small retailers returned 52% of revenue to the local community, compared with almost 14% for chain stores. A 2008 study from Kent County, Michigan, found that if residents
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redirected 10% of their spending to local stores, it would create almost $140 million in new economic activity. Ultimately, these dollars support the local economy, encourage small businesses and increase the tax revenue of your community, which can then be used on local improvement projects or go toward local infrastructure. Ian Littlejohn, the director of the Blacksburg Fa r mers Ma rket, echoed this sentiment in a recent interview. “Locally grown food creates impor tant economic oppor tunities, provides health benefits, and helps to reduce environmental impact,” Littlejohn said. “It also helps bring the community together and gives people the opportunity to make a difference. Additionally, many people feel local food tastes better and lasts longer.” Littlejohn has fond feelings of the local food movement. “I’m a big fan of strong communities,” he said when
asked why he became interested in the local food movement. “Local foods create more vibrant communities by connecting people with the farmers and food producers who bring them healthy local foods. As customers of CSAs and farmers markets have discovered, they are great places to meet and connect with friends as well as farmers.” Blacksburg is fortunate to have a vibrant and popular farmers market where someone can buy everything from pastured beef to bagels and coffee. The farmers market is both a community meeting place as well as somewhere to learn about food. More Americans, especially those looking to lead a more sustainable lifestyle, should shop and eat more locally. MARCUS LEWIS • senior • national security & foreign affairs, international studies
Lifestyles
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January 25, 2022 PAGE 5
Snow way out: Your guide to a snow day in Blacksburg
As the winter weather rages on this month in Blacksburg, here are a few tips for going about your next snow day. ANASTASIA EL-BOGDADI lifestyles contributor
Imagine this: You look outside after a night of snowfall. You open your window and see the snow resting on the trees. This is your first snow day in Blacksburg, and it’s beyond beautiful. Your first thought is to go back to sleep, but part of you is excited because it’s finally snowing. After winter break — which, this year, felt more like spring break — is the moment you’ve been waiting for. So, let’s say this does happen: what now? You have an entire day to do whatever you want. Whether you’re living on or off campus, this is your guide to a thrilling snow day in Blacksburg.
Go sledding, snowboarding or body-boarding.
This past snow day, students were spotted sledding, snowboarding and even riding like a penguin sliding down various hills on campus. Forgot to pack a sled? Don’t worry. Many students decided to make their own sleds out of a variety of materials. Cardboard boxes, laundry baskets, recycling bins and even caution signs can all be used as improvisation for sleds, sometimes leading to unfortunate wipeouts. If you can’t find materials for a sled, sliding down like a penguin or making snow angels works too. Just make sure you’re layered up for the Blacksburg weather. “At night, after the fire alarm went off, my friends and I decided to stay outside and run around in the snow and make snow angels,” said Elizabeth Carter, a freshman studying animal and poultry sciences. “I’d describe it as an off but fun experience.”
Build a snowman.
If someone asks, “Do you want to build a snowman?” I highly suggest saying yes on your next snow day. Building a snowman is a classic activity for a snow day, and several were spotted outside of the dorms this year, including several armies of snowmen.
Students also seem to get creative when it comes to different materials used on these snowmen. Celery can be used for arms, peppers for the smile, and even grapes for eyes. Let’s hope the dining halls didn’t hear about their produce being used for snowmen on campus.
Attend the civilian vs. cadet snowball fight.
The cadet vs. civilian snowball fight is a yearly campus tradition that occurs on the day of the first snowfall. Whether it’s your first or last year at Virginia Tech, participating in this competitive snowball fight is a must. “We went to the snowball fight and it was so much fun, because this year we pushed the cadets back to their dorm in ten minutes,” said Livi Marrin, a junior studying history. This year, students showed up in ghillie suits and helmets, carrying lobsters and much more. It is an understatement to say that students take the snowball fight very seriously. Hours before the fight had officially begun, students were seen on the Drillfield building forts with recycling bins and making the largest snowballs they could. While the cadets’ efforts were admirable, it seems as if the civilians claimed victory this year, outnumbering the cadets and bringing their A-game to the fight. “My first snow day in Blacksburg was fun,” said Stephen Argauer, a freshman cadet studying chemistry. “At a key point in the snowball fight, one of the Cadres and I charged the flag. We were overwhelmed by the sheer number of civilians, and our attack was unfortunately smushed.”
and reading books, you can surely stay entertained for a snow day. Additionally, you’re never too old to enjoy a warm cup of hot chocolate (don’t forget the marshmallows, too). A cup of hot chocolate and your favorites on TV are the perfect way to wind down after a cold snow day. “We got a sled and went to a hill in our neighborhood,” said Aislinn Grant, a senior studying aerospace engineering. “It was really windy, and there was ice pouring down. I had a friend who decided to wear a onesie and shorts, and went swimming in the pond. His hair was completely frozen, but after (that) we made hot chocolate and
watched ‘The Bachelorette.’”
Play football in the snow.
This past snow day, students played a variety of sports on the Drillfield, particularly tackle football. Not only is playing in the snow a great way to get your exercise in, but it’s most definitely a bonding experience for all those participating.
Enjoy a snow slushie.
I remember snow slushies being a childhood favorite on snow days. Whether you’re planning on taking snow back to your room and adding soda or taking a long hike
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Make a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy your time inside. If you’re not really in the mood to go outside to play in the snow, that’s OK. There are many indoor activities for someone wanting to stay in for the snow day. With a new season of “The Bachelor” and other activities such as board games, new recipes
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to 7-Eleven for a Slurpee, both options work and will allow you to create memories that will last a lifetime.
AMBER WILLIAMS / COLLEGIATE TIMES Snowplow on campus on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2021.
Sleep and enjoy the view. This may be a college student’s favorite snow day activity. After all, you deserve a break. Sleeping for 24 hours is always an especially good option. Don’t feel like you have to go out for an action-packed day of activities — taking a day to take care of yourself is just as important. You can always just take a stroll to admire the view. “Campus looked beautiful, covered in snow,” said Nick Loveday, a freshman
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studying philosophy, politics and economics. “Walking the Drillfield felt totally different.” Whenever the next Blacksburg snow day falls upon us, don’t forget to look back at these options for a fun-filled day of snow activities that can make you feel like a kid again.
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A glimpse into the vision of Innovate LLC’s program director Laura Townsend reflects on her career and inspiring students to become entrepreneurs through Innovate. DAVID VU lifestyles contributor
The Creativity and Innovation District (CID) Living Learning Program Residence Hall is the home of three living learning communities: Studio 72, Innovate and Rhizome. The CID brings these three Living Learning Communities (LLCs) together and helps create a community for students to thrive in the arts, entrepreneurship and tackling global challenges. Laura Townsend, program director of Innovate, shone a bit of light on Innovate itself, its history, its objectives and her own journey in business and entrepreneurship. Innovate started out as a small group of students at Oak Lane in 2013 and then moved to Pritchard Hall in 2015 as the program grew. Townsend became the director of Innovate in 2016 and decided to move the LLC to the CID after working to resolve the design issues of the building for the past two years. “We were really excited to move over and be a part of it (CID) since it’s a really good
collaboration of innovation and the arts,” Townsend said. Innovate is interdisciplinary and is open to anyone interested in entrepreneurship and business. The LLC has a wide array of students, including some who already have a company but need help with starting and others interested in establishing one. Innovate cultivates entrepreneurial skills through various activities such as ventures to companies, invitations to different CEOs and executives to speak with students, and connecting students with local startup businesses for internships and access to local entrepreneurs. “It (Innovate) just kind of really introduces them (students) to this whole entrepreneurship world and network and we try to get them introduced to that and let them see the possibilities that are out there,” Townsend said. “Maybe one day they will start something, or if they have something now, we try to help them think through issues they may have or how to raise money.” Townsend promotes community-building
COURTESY OF LAURA TOWNSEND Townsend, director of Innovate LLC, pictured fourth from right.
activities in Innovate to cultivate camaraderie, such as bowling, family dinners, holiday parties and much more. Townsend also recently created a monthly musical event called Venture Vibes, where members host concerts and musicians in the CID’s performance hall. “That’s like a way to revitalize the music scene here at Virginia Tech because music is really entrepreneurial,” Townsend said. “We have a lot of hidden talent here for students that are interested in going into the music industry and don’t have any outlets for it.” Townsend’s passion for business and entrepreneurship comes from her childhood. When Townsend was a child, she grew up poor with a Korean mother and a white father whose families both disowned them for marrying each other. “When I was growing up, the Vietnam War had just ended and my mom, as an Asian woman, was terribly treated,” Townsend said. “We were terribly treated as Asian young people and a mom because ‘we’ lost the Vietnam War.”
Townsend took the hardships and toughness of her childhood and turned them into determination to improve her life. She saw education as a way out and a way to create a better life for herself. “I think there was always this drive and motivation to want more for my life and to always look for opportunities because I didn’t have anything, so I was always looking for opportunities to make a difference, or, ‘How can I improve things?’” Townsend said. “So, I grew up that way because I didn’t have a lot so I had to figure out ways to make things work.” She became the first in her family to attend college, where she received an undergraduate degree in management at Oral Roberts University and completed her master’s in human relations at the University of Oklahoma. She also studied entrepreneurship during college, where her entrepreneurship professor inspired Townsend’s passion for business and entrepreneurship. “I remember him saying that ‘entrepreneurship will be the next big thing,’”
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Townsend said. “The class is very similar to what we do now; we had to come up with a company and pitch it in front of a panel of judges, and this was before Shark Tank.” Townsend eventually worked as a college pastor and then as a director of a dorm of 600 students under the dean of women at a university. It was during this time she found a love for being a part of college students’ journeys. When Townsend reflected on misconceptions that revolve around the business world, she noted that entrepreneurship can often be seen as a profession only welcoming to white males due to a lack of diversity in the field. “Entrepreneurship has been very white male dominated because there have been
collegiatetimes.com a lot of barriers of entry for women and minorities,” Townsend said. “I think it’s really important for aspiring entrepreneurs to see themselves represented and other business leaders, so it’s really important to have that representation.” Townsend thinks that the biggest aspect of the business world that should be improved on is representation, especially when talking about diversity, equity, inclusion and most importantly to her, belonging. “A lot of the business principles and systems are established by white men and they don’t serve minorities and they don’t serve women and they are very patriarchal,” Townsend said. “We have to rethink how leadership and business is run and how we can create this sense of belonging.” Townsend noted that she wants Innovate
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students to fully embrace the components of what a Living Learning Community is. While Innovate is all for learning about entrepreneurship and business, Townsend also wants students to value the “living” and “community” aspects of the LLC; to her, the “living” aspect means to participate in life and find out who you really are aside from other people and the “community” aspect means to live and connect with others. “What I want students to get out of it (Innovate) is I want them to engage in life and find a sense of purpose and to learn they aren’t limited by others; they are only limited by themselves,” Townsend said. When thinking about the future for Innovate, Townsend hopes that the LLC will be known as one of the best entrepreneurship programs in the nation and aims to expand
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the program to have a far-reaching impact on more students’ lives. “One thing about being an entrepreneur is, when doing a startup, you really look at scalability, and so we have maintained kind of a smaller community until next year,” Townsend said. “The point is that I have spent years trying to develop a really good infrastructure because I want to maintain the integrity of what we are trying to do here and I don’t want it to just be a name-only thing that people are a part of. I want it to really make a lasting impact for students, and in order to do that, we have to make sure that we are structuring things in a way that still has that high personal impact as we grow.” @CollegiateTimes
Hokies control the pool against Penn State Hokies conclude with seven Top 25 finishes versus Nittany Lions.
AMBER WILLIAMS sports editor
On Saturday, the Virginia Tech swim and dive team put on a commanding performance against Big Ten opposition Penn State for a win in both the men’s and women’s categories.
Men
Overall, the No. 13 men claimed victory with a 196.5 to 103.5 score. The top three finishers in the 1,000 freestyle were all Hokies, with freshman Luis Dominguez finding himself in Virginia Tech’s All-Time Top 10 following a time of 9:09.63. Tech also claimed first place in the 500 freestyle courtesy of a 4:23.70 time from Dominguez. Dominguez completed his trifecta of winning performances as the final leg in the winning 200 free relay team for the Hokies, accompanied by seniors Henry Claesson, Blake Manoff and Noah Desman. In proper senior day fashion, senior Antani Ivanov raked in the accomplishments. Ivanov was the third leg of the 200 medley relay team which placed first along with sophomores Youssef Ramadan, Carles Coll Marti and graduate student Thomas Hallock. Ivanov’s performance of a 20.36 50
fly split, along with the team’s overall time of 1:25.13, placed them in the country’s Top 25 and Virginia Tech’s All-Time Top 10. Ivanov continued to show off the skills he has developed as a Hokie, coming in first in the 200 fly with a time of 1:42.85, earning another spot in the Top 25. Graduate student Sam Tornqvist also had a day, coming in first in the 100 backstroke and barely missing first in the 200 backstroke with a time only eight-one-hundredths of a second behind first place. Altogether, the men now hold four Top 25 performances in the country following their battle against the Nittany Lions.
In backstroke, sophomore Emma Atkinson was a force as the lead for the 200 medley relay which broke records. Atkinson also came in first in the 100 backstroke and in the 200 back, which earned her a place in the Top 25 and a pool record. Atkinson wrapped up the day as part of the winning 200 free relay. Junior Karisa Franz was also of note for the Hokies, as she came in first in the 200 fly. The women finished the meet with three Top 25 performances.
The Hokies will follow up this recordbreaking performance with the Virginia Tech Invitational on Feb. 4 through Feb. 6 in Christiansburg, Virginia.
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Women
The women were equally impressive, blowing Penn State out of the water with a total score of 213 to 83. Junior Sarah Shackelford was the star in freestyle competition; she first opened as the anchor for the first place 200 medley relay and followed up that performance with multiple successes in solo events. Shackelford swam in first for the 50 free, coming in at 22.74, and then claimed first in the 100 free with 49.47. To culminate her time at the competition, Shackelford anchored the winning 200 free relay.
COURTESY OF HOKIESPORTS
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Men’s basketball outdone by Eagles in close matchup, 63–68 A tough shooting night leads to a loss for the Hokies. GLEN RORIE sports staff writer
After winning two straight conference games, the Virginia Tech’s men’s basketball team’s (10–8, 2–5 ACC) win streak was halted by the Boston College Eagles (8–9, 3–4 ACC) in a 68–63 loss. Virginia Tech came into the Jan. 22 matchup off a narrow 62–59 win against the North Carolina State Wolfpack. Like in the last game, Virginia Tech came out of the gate on a roll, picking up a lead as large as 11 points over the Eagles. Forward Keve Aluma led the charge, netting 10 points alone in the first half. However, Aluma picked up two fouls with six minutes left in the half and was subbed out.
The Eagles shaved down what was once a 19-8 lead for Tech to two points, 33–31, before halftime. The Hokies were menaces on the defensive side of the ball, as they had five steals and caused eight turnovers for the Eagles. Unfortunately the Hokies were boxed out of the paint during the first half. The Eagles outrebounded the Hokies 17 to 12 and outscored them in the paint. In the second half, Virginia Tech str uggled from the 3-point line, shooting around 27.3%. While in the first half, the Hokies shot around 66.7% from three. They were unable to connect from deep during crunchtime. More of the same continued in the second half as they failed to make any
adjustments in the lane. The Hokies were once again outrebounded, with 23 to the Eagles’ 38, and outscored in the paint 36 to 26 to end the game. The Hokies have struggled this season rebounding, as the team only averages around 33 rebounds per game. They are in the bottom half of the NCAA in that statistical category. Eagle center James Karnik had 26 points and nine rebounds and Eagle guard Makai Ashton-Langford had 18 points. Karnik dominated the Hokies in the paint and shot around 83% from the field. Despite the Hokies’ loss, Aluma tried everything to keep Virginia Tech in the game, scoring 21 points on 50% shooting and corralling eight rebounds.
Guard Hunter Cattoor had 14 points, followed by Nahiem Alleyne with 10 points. Virginia Tech has now lost three straight games against Boston College. The Hokies will play the North Carolina Tar Heels in their next matchup on Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. This game was originally scheduled for Dec. 29, 2021, but was rescheduled due to COVID-19 issues in the Hokies’ program at the time.
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Tech breaks track and field records at Hokie Invitational The Hokies broke three school records at the meet. GLEN RORIE sports staff writer
The Virginia Tech track and field team hosted the Hokie Invitational from Jan. 21 to 22. Three school records were broken during the meet. Day One New season, new record. Graduate student Seb Anthony not only made Virginia Tech program history, but NCAA history as well, breaking the record for the men’s 1,000-meter. Anthony ran 2 minutes and 20 seconds eclipsing the 2017 Virginia Tech record of 2:20.54. He now holds the fastest 1,000m run in Virginia Tech history and the NCAA. Just behind Anthony, fellow teammate senior Antonio Lopez Segura finished second in the race with a time of 2:20.73. Lopez Segura is currently second in the NCAA right behind Anthony. Recent Kansas freshman transfer Victoria Gorlova broke the Virginia Tech women’s triple jump record in her
first legal jump with the leap of 13.18m. With that jump, she currently stands on top of the ACC and seventh in the NCAA. Senior Chauncey Chambers won the men’s triple jump event as he tied his indoor personal best with a jump of 15.92m. Senior Cole Beck won the men’s 60m dash as he ran his personal best of 6.63 seconds. In her debut for Virginia Tech, freshman Barbora Malíková won the women’s 600m run with the time of 1:28.02. After her appearance in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics for the Czech Republic, Malíková has now added this impressive victory to the Virginia Tech record with the team’s secondfastest time in the event. Malíková currently holds the top spot in the NCAA as well. Other notable victories included senior Rachel Baxter taking first in women’s pole vault with a clearance
of 4.42m. Graduate student Rebecca Mammel and sophomore Sara Killinen finished first and second, respectively, in the women’s weight throw; Mammel threw 21.72m and Killinen 21.35m. Day Two After a strong Day One, Alabama t r a nsfer g r a du at e st udent Ja ke Spotswood cr ushed the Vi rginia Tech heptathlon record after scoring 5,731 points. Spotswood surpassed the previous record by 381 points and currently holds the best score in the NCAA. After his success in the 60m dash on Day One, Beck went back-to-back with victories. Beck won the men’s 200m dash with 21.06 seconds, with three fellow Hokies to follow: junior Kennedy Harrison at 21.20 seconds, sophomore Kahleje “KJ” Tillmon at 21.22 and freshman Torrence Walker at 21.49. On the field, freshman Conner
McClure and senior Harrison Rice took first and second, respectively, in the men’s pole vault. Both cleared 5.20m to secure the victory. Senior KJ Moore took third place in the men’s long jump with a jump of 7.52m. To finish the meet off, the men’s 4x40 0m relay team of Tillmon, Harrison, graduate student Patrick Forrest and redshirt senior Tyreke Sapp won the event. The team ran 3:09.41, notching them fourth in the Virginia Tech record book for this event. After another strong meet, some members of the Virginia Tech track and field team will travel to Lexington, Virginia, for the VMI Winter Relays on Jan. 28–29.
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