North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack To Compete In Virginia Tech Elite Meet
2/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track
RALEIGH, N.C. - The NC State track and field team is traveling to Blacksburg, Va., for the Doc Hale VT Elite meet on Feb. 6-7. The team will continue to earn qualifying marks for the conference championships as well as take steps in preparing for competition at ACC Indoor Championships.
The Competition:
This meet will feature some top competition from around the country including SEC opponents Georgia, Kentucky, Florida, and Tennessee as well as ACC opponents Pittsburgh, UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke, Virginia, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Miami, Louisville and Wake Forest and American Athletic Conference opponent East Carolina.
According to USTFCCCA standings, five competing schools on the men's side are ranked in the top-25 while the women will face off against four top-25 programs.
Geiger's Expectations:
"I think anytime the competition is at a higher level, it puts your athletes in a better situation to get better marks. Virginia Tech hosts several competitions, and this is their elite meet so the competition is at a higher level. We`re looking forward to the opportunity for the program to compete against athletes at a higher level.
"We're trying to get individuals not only qualified for the ACC championships, but when they get there, putting them in position so they can score. It's a process, and this is a meet that is going to be another stepping stone.
"This competition actually prepares us for the next, which I think, is a higher level meet at the Spire Invitational in Cleveland, and we also have a few athletes going to Albuquerque, N.M., for the Don Kirby Open and Elite. These next two weeks are big competitions. I think it will allow us to get some marks for the ACC Championships."
Taking The Next Step:
The majority of the season thus far has been about earning qualifying marks for the ACC Indoor Championships. With three weekends before the ACC Indoor Championships, the team will now focus on getting primed for conference championships. For the next two weekends, State will compete in meets which feature strong competition, which will allow student-athletes the opportunity to test themselves against better competition.
Last Time Out:
The team competed at the Hilton Garden Invitational on Jan 30-31. Several student-athletes ran in the Camel City Elite Races against top colligate athletes and professionals, while many of the team's talented underclassmen set new personal best marks.
In addition to placing 18 student-athletes in the top-10 of their respective events at the Hilton Garden Invitational, The Pack now has 33 qualifying marks for the ACC Indoor Championships.
