Both Hokies score points competing in their first outdoor national meet
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Track & field athletes Brian Mondschein and Sven Hahn scored points for Virginia Tech in their event\'s finals late Friday evening at the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships held at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex on the campus of Sacramento State.Mondschein (Jr., Hummelstown, Pa.) claimed the runner-up spot in the pole vault finals by tying his personal best height of 17\'8\'50\" (5.40m). For his personal best second place finish at a NCAA championship, Mondschein earned his second All-American honor of his career and eight points for Tech\'s men\'s team. Robison Pratt (Brigham Young) won the NCAA pole vault title by clearing a height of 18\'0.50\" (5.50m).
Mondschein concludes the 2005 season as a two-time All-American, the NCAA east region champion, a two-time ACC champion and a two-time All-ACC selection all in the pole vault.
Hahn (Jr., Stuttgart, Germany) placed sixth in the finals of the shot put with his fifth throw (62\'2.25\"; 18.95m) of the sixth throw series. Hahn, who competed in his first NCAA national championships, reached All-American status for the first time in his career. Hahn\'s sixth place performance also earned the Hokie men three points. Hahn, a two-time All-ACC member, finished as the highest ACC athlete in the event. Florida State\'s Dorian Scott placed eighth. Edis Elkasevic (Auburn) threw the shot 68\'6\" (20.88m) to win the national championship.
Other Hokies in action on Friday included Jacobus Smit and Saskia Triesscheijn. Smit placed five spots higher than his 2004 national meet finish. Triesscheijn competed in four events of the heptathlon and currently is in 24th place.
Smit (Jr., Pretoria, South Africa) placed 12th in the finals of the javelin throw with a mark of 207\'07\" (63.28m). The ACC javelin throw champion finished five spots higher than his 17th place finish in the qualifying round last year. Gabriel Wallin (Boise State) won the NCAA title by throwing the javelin 258\'5\" (78.76m).
Competing at the championships on Saturday, the last day, is Saskia Triesscheijn and Kristen Callan. Triesscheijn is slated to compete in the long jump, javelin and 800 meters of the heptathlon from 11 a.m. (PT) to 4 p.m. (PT). Callan will throw the hammer in her first finals of an NCAA national meet at 1:30 p.m. (PT).