Several Duke and collegiate records fell over the weekend during the Blue Devils’ first meet of the season, the Virginia Tech Invitational in Blacksburg, Va.
Chief among those records was Kate Van Buskirk’s collegiate record time of 2:41.00 in the 1000-meter, replacing the previous record set in 1989 by Teena Colebrook of Cal Poly.
“In 20 years I’ve never seen a Duke athlete set a collegiate record,” Director of Track and Field Norm Ogilvie said to GoDuke.com. “It just goes to show how strong our program has become.”
Joined by Devotia Moore, Esther Vermeer and Cydney Ross, Van Buskirk also ran a leg of the women’s 4x800, in which the four Blue Devils set a new school record by seven seconds. The previous record had been set by a team which included All-American Liz Wort and Olympian Shannon Rowbury.
Senior Laura Paulsen kicked off a successful meet in the weekend’s first event, winning the women’s 3000-meter with a time of 9:45.31. Andrew Brodeur, Ryan McDermott and Bo Waggoner swept the top three spots in the men’s 3000-meter. Also in distance, Clint McKelvey and Brian Atkinson placed second and third in the 5000-meter. The two freshmen will compete at the USA Cross Country Junior Championships in San Diego, Calif. on Feb. 5.
In the field, senior Amy Fryt notched the highest pole vault at the meet with a 13’8.25”, while freshman Tanner Anderson became the first Duke athlete to clear seven feet in the high jump with a mark of 7’0.25”. Anderson finished second to 2009 NCAA Division II high jump champion Joe Kindred.
Sophomore Michelle Anumba twice threw a 55’9.25” in the shotput, also setting a new school mark.
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