North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Ready for Virginia Challenge
4/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The NC State track and field team will travel to Charlottesville, Va., to compete in the Virginia Challenge. The meet will run Friday and Saturday and feature competition from 35 schools and 1,300 athletes.
The Competition:
NC State will face some familiar opponents, as East Carolina, Wake Forest, UNC-CH, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech and Michigan State all competed earlier this season at the Raleigh Relays, while Virginia and Notre Dame from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) will also compete in the weekend meet.
No. 22 Virginia is the lone-ranked team on the men's side, while No. 18 Michigan State, No. 21 Virginia Tech and No. 22 North Carolina are the ranked women's teams in competition. 
A host of individual indoor All-Americans and conference champions will also compete, which will provide State's athletes with a valuable opportunity to test themselves against some of the best athletes in the nation.
Mid-Season Progress:
Approximately halfway through the season, the Wolfpack has 39 ACC qualifying marks and 28 athletes ranked among the top 48 of the east regional qualifying list.
The throwers have earned 13 conference qualifying marks between three events, while the distance and mid-distance runners hold several marks in the top-20 of national lists.
Several sprinters and jumpers have also posted competitive national marks.
This week, a large majority of the Pack will aim to improve their marks, while Nick Link and Clay Jones will make their outdoor season debuts.
Last Time Out:
The NC State track and field team concluded the Duke Invitational with a strong showing from its sprinters and mid-distance runners. The groups combined to earn six conference qualifying marks and eight top-three finishes.
