ECU Wire Services

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina track and field program heads to Blacksburg, Va., after opening the indoor season last month with a strong start. This weekend, the Pirates will compete at the Virginia Tech Invitational beginning Friday, January 17 and concluding Saturday, January 18.

“We are very excited about this weekend’s meet at Virginia Tech,” Head coach Curt Kraft said. “Both our men’s and women’s teams have been working extremely hard during the fall and over the holiday break. There will be some really good competition there, so it will give us some indication as to where we are as a team right out of the gate. As a coaching staff, we feel that if both squads stay focused and work hard that it can be a special year.”

ECU kicked off the 2014 campaign last month at the Christopher Newport Invitational with a school-record breaking performance from junior thrower Kayla Padgett. The Shallotte, N.C., native broke her own school record mark in the women’s weight throw with a heave of 20.75 meters (68-01.00) to win the event. Padgett also placed first in the women’s shot put with a personal-best throw of 14.43 meters (55-11.00).

Since the season opener last month, the Pirates have been working hard in preparation for the Virginia Tech Invitational as they are looking to build on the 2013 indoor season which saw ECU break a number of school records as well as set several personal-best marks and times.

Last season at the Virginia Tech Invite, East Carolina saw five different student-athletes set new school records in their respective events. Additionally, the men’s and women’s squads each won three events in the men’s 60-meter, 200-meter, and weight throw, along with the women’s 300-meter, 4×400-meter relay and weight throw.

Following the Virginia Tech Invitational, East Carolina will return to the state of North Carolina to compete in the Tar Heel Open in Chapel Hill, N.C. The two-day meet will run from Friday, January 24 until Saturday, January 25.