2011 Virginia Tech Top 10: No. 4 - Men's Track and Field Finishes 5th

Over the next few weeks we'll count down the Top 10 moments in Virginia Tech sports in the 2010-11 sports season. Only one moment per sport is eligible for the countdown, otherwise this would just be seven or eight football moments and then it might as well have just been the football Top 10 and done in January. And since I was too lazy to do that and there isn't anything going on during the summer we're doing this. Hope you enjoy.

No. 5 - Women's Soccer Beats B2B Top 10 Teams
No. 6 - Volleyball Makes 1st NCAA Tournament
No. 7 - Baseball's Rash Leads ACC in Homers
No. 8 - Women's Lacrosse Holds on for Upset
No. 9 - Men's Tennis Beats No. 20 Louisville
No. 10 - Softball Wins at Florida State

In 2010, Virginia Tech's men's track and field team claimed its highest finish ever at the NCAA championships - 10th. One year later, the team returned the championships with nearly twice as many competitors and against produced its best finish, hovering near the top of the standings early on before finishing fifth.

The Hokies' effort in Des Moines was highlighted by Alexander Ziegler's national championship in the hammer throw. It was the fourth hammer throw title in Hokie history, joining Marcel Lomnicky (who finished second this year) and Spyridon Jullien (who won twice).

Ziegler and Lomnicky were among seven first-team All-Americans for the men's team, including one name that's very familiar to Virginia Tech fans. Running back David Wilson participated in the triple jump and set a personal best to finish sixth and earn All-American honors. Hasheem Halim finished fourth in the triple jump with a personal best of his own.

The other two All-Americans for the men's team were Matthias Treff in the javelin, Ronnie Black in the high jump and Joe Davis in the pole vault.

With the consistent success the men's and women's track and field teams have had at Virginia Tech, it could be argued that Dave Cianelli's programs are the ones closest to bringing a national title to Blacksburg. Last year, the women's team finished fifth at nationals and the men's team has now set its best finish in back to back years. The programs have also combined for 10 individual national titles.

Other Highlights for Track and Field

- Dorotea Hazabin wins national title in hammer throw.
- Men's team finishes second at ACC championship.