ATLANTA, Ga. (theACC.com) – After three days of competition, the 2024 Atlantic Coast Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships have drawn to a close at the George C. Griffin Track & Field Facility in Atlanta, Georgia.
For the first time in program history, the Virginia Cavaliers are the outright ACC champions in men’s track and field. The Cavaliers recorded 107 points to beat out in-state rival Virginia Tech by just 4.67 points. North Carolina finished third with 102 points, while Florida State took fourth with 95 points and Miami took fifth with 83 points.
Duke repeated as the women’s champions with 133 total points, becoming the first back-to-back outright ACC women’s track and field champions since the league expanded to 15 teams. Clemson finished as the runner-up with 118.5 points, while Notre Dame and Virginia finished tied for third with 74 points. Florida State finished fifth with 68 points.
Florida State’s Dejaz DeFrand repeated as the Women’s Track Most Valuable Performer after winning the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, and picking up two points in the 4x100-meter relay. The sophomore finished with 22 total points throughout the ACC Championships.
Virginia Tech’s Judson Lincoln IV earned Men’s Track Most Valuable Performer honors after he won both the 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash and added points in the 4x100 and 4x400-meter relays. Lincoln IV, a sophomore, finished with 22.75 total points and became the second Hokie to win MVP honors in the last three seasons.
Jeremiah Davis of Florida State won his third consecutive Outdoor Track and Field Most Valuable Performer award, after winning both the long jump and triple jump titles and totaling 20 points. Davis becomes the first person in ACC history to win three consecutive men’s field MVP honors.
After winning both the heptathlon and triple jump and finishing second in the long jump, Pitt’s Ilse Steigenga was named the Women’s Field Most Valuable Performer. Steigenga becomes the first Panther to win a women’s MVP award at the ACC Championships.
Louisville’s Jayden Ulrich started Championship Saturday in a strong way, setting the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships record in the discus throw. Ulrich launched the discus 61.31 meters (201-1), which ranks second nationally in the event this season. Ulrich was joined on the podium by silver medalist Leia Braunagel of Wake Forest (58.79m) and bronze medalist Marie Forbes of Clemson (55.99m).
Virginia Tech’s Aidan Clark kicked off the men’s slate of events with a gold medal in the high jump. The senior cleared 2.20 meters (7-2.5) on his way to becoming the Hokies’ first ACC high jump champion since 2013. By clearing 2.17 meters (7-1.5) on his second attempt, Louisville’s Brion Stephens took second place, while Miami’s Kennedy Sauder earned the bronze medal after needing three attempts to clear the same height.
Duke’s 4x100-meter relay team of Mia Edim, Abby Geiser, Halle Bieber and Maddy Doane took the gold medal with a time of 43.59. The Blue Devils held off Florida State, who clocked a time of 43.68, and Clemson, which ran a 43.72, to claim the first women’s ACC 4x100-meter relay title in program history.
In the women’s 1,500-meter run, Virginia’s Margot Appleton took the title after recording a time of 4:11.04, marking her second-straight ACC 1,500-meter championship. To earn the silver medal, Clemson’s Gladys Chepngetich ran a 4:13.15, holding off Florida State’s Suus Altorf, who finished just seven-hundredths of a second behind with a time of 4:13.22.
Clemson’s Oneka Wilson cruised to victory in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line with a time of 12.87 seconds. Wilson beat out the reigning ACC 100-meter hurdle champion, Alexandra Webster of Florida State, who finished second with a time of 13.04. Duke’s Skyla Wilson finished in third place, turning in a 13.26-second showing.
Lauren Tolbert of Duke brings the women’s 400-meter medal back to Durham after clocking a personal-best time of 52.00 seconds. Miami’s Makenzy Pierre-Webster also ran a personal best in the race, clocking a 52.22. Ken’naria Gadson of Clemson finished in third place with a 52.51-second time.
The Seminoles’ Dajaz DeFrand threatened the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships record in the 100-meter, coming up just three-hundredths of a second shy with her time of 11.08 seconds. Winning by nearly three-tenths of a second, DeFrand raced past Clemson’s Aleksandra Stoilova, who turned in a silver medal winning time of 11.35. DeFrand’s teammate, Kaniya Johnson, earned bronze after finishing with a time of 11.46 seconds – just two-thousandths of a second ahead of fellow Seminole Liana Tyson.
In the women’s high jump, Notre Dame’s Madison Schmidt matched her personal-best height of 1.82 meters (5-11.5), needing just one jump to do so and to win the gold medal. Schmidt becomes the first-ever ACC women’s high jump champion in Fighting Irish history. Virginia’s Celia Rifaterra cleared 1.79 meters (5-10.5) to take the silver, while Clemson’s Nia Christie won bronze with a 1.76-meter (5-9.25) jump.
The women’s triple jump was won by Virginia Tech’s Victoria Gorlova, who turned in a distance of 13.27 meters (43-6.5) on her way to defending her 2023 ACC women’s triple jump title. Clemson’s Shantae Foreman recorded a 13.26-meter jump to earn the silver, while Miami’s Christina Warren took the bronze after a 13.11-meter leap.
Clemson’s freshman sensation Gladys Chepngetich won the 800-meter run, turning in a time of 2:02.88. Chepngetich was joined on the podium by second-place finisher Makayla Paige of North Carolina (2:04.07) and third-place finisher Virginia Tech’s Lindsey Butler (2:04.28). Chepngetich becomes the Tigers’ first women’s 800-meter run champion since Laurie Barton in 2021.
After finishing third in the 100-meter hurdles, Duke’s Skyla Wilson got her redemption by winning the 400-meter hurdles. Wilson’s time of 56.05 was a new personal best as she beat out Florida State’s Tyra Wilson, who crossed the line in 56.30 seconds. Clemson’s Ken’naria Gadson was the bronze medalist in the event, running a 57.37.
DeFrand, the Women’s Track MVP, ran a personal-best time of 22.49 in the 200-meter dash to win her second gold medal of the event. The Seminoles’ sophomore defended her title from the 2023 ACC Championships and knocked off Duke’s Halle Bieber, who ran a personal-best time of 22.97, and Miami’s Makenzy Pierre-Webster, who clocked a 23.16. DeFrand’s time was just six-hundredths of a second shy of matching the ACC record for the event.
Meet records continued to fall late into the evening as Notre Dame’s Olivia Markezich ran a 15:23.14 in the women’s 5000-meter run to lead a Fighting Irish 1-2 finish. Her teammate, Siona Chisholm, ran a personal-best time of 15:32.93 to earn the silver medal, while Virginia’s Margot Appleton finished third at 15:36.95.
Duke’s Lauren Tolbert ran a lightning-quick 50.89-second final lap of the women’s 4x400-meter relay to lead the Blue Devils to a come from behind victory. The team of Maddy Doane, Megan McGinnis, Meredith Sims and Tolbert capped off the Blue Devils’ team title with 10 additional points to bring Duke’s total to 133 points. Tolbert and Duke broke the line in 3:31.76, overcaoming Clemson’s (3:32.02) and Miami (3:32.27).
Florida State took first and third place in the men’s triple jump, highlighted by Jeremiah Davis’ 16.71-meter (54-10) jump to win the gold. The mark is the second-best nationally and was the first time this spring in which Davis competed in the triple jump. Miami’s Russell Robinson lept a season-best 16.61 meters (54-6) to finish in second place, while the Seminoles’ Kyvon Tatham finished third after a jump of 15.73 meters (51-7.25).
The first running event of the evening was the 4x100-meter relay, which was won by Florida State in a time of 39.49. The Seminoles’ team of Keshaun Black, Ismael Kone, Alex Collier and Jaiden Rollins edged out Pitt (39.67) and Clemson (39.84), both of which turned in season bests for their respective programs.
North Carolina’s Ethan Strand defended his title in the men’s 1500-meter run, winning his second straight gold medal with a time of 3:40.43. Strand held off the Virginia duo of Gary Martin and Wes Porter, who finished second and third, respectively, with times of 3:40.87 and 3:42.13.
The men’s 100-meter hurdles was won by Florida State’s Tyson Williams, who ran a blistering fast time of 13.62. Syracuse’s Jaheem Hayles’ time of 13.80 was enough to inch past Ardonntrell Williams of Pitt, who finished third with a time of 13.802. Williams bested the Seminoles’ Andre Korbmacher by eight-thousandths of a second to earn First Team All-ACC honors.
Virginia Tech’s Lincoln IV toppled the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships record in the 400-meter, which was previously held by Milton Campbell of North Carolina since 1997. Lincoln IV’s time of 44.60 was just one-hundredth of a second away from tying the ACC record, which has stood since 1994. The Hokies’ sophomore was followed by D’Andre Anderson of Clemson (45.37) and Soloman Strader (45.64), who took second and third, respectively.
After taking first place in the 4x100-meter relay earlier in the day, the Seminoles’ Kone also won the 100-meter dash with a 10.25-second time. Kone became the third straight Seminole to win the 100-meter dash title while holding off second-place finisher Cameron Rose of Clemson and his time of 10.32. Syracuse’s Trei Thorogood turned in a personal-best time of 10.39 seconds to earn the bronze medal.
Tarees Rhoden of Clemson ran a personal-best time of 1:45.97 in the 800-meter run to earn the gold medal for the Tigers. Wake Forest’s Rynard Swanepoel finished second behind Rhoden, clocking a time of 1:46.69, edging out bronze medalist Shane Cohen of Virginia, who turned in a personal-best time of 1:46.89.
The Hurricane’s picked up 10 additional points when Milton Ingraham won the discus throw, closing the book on men’s field events. The senior launched a 61.32-meter (201-2) throw to repeat as the ACC men’s discuss throw champion, previously winning as a member of Florida State. Virginia’s Jacob Lemmon finished in second place with a 60.31-meter (197-10) throw, while Uladzislau Puchko of Virginia Tech finished in third place with a throw of 58.92 meters (193-4).
North Carolina’s Craig Saddler II clocked a 49.82 in the men’s 400-meter hurdles to win the gold medal for the second-straight year. Virginia’s Alex Sherman recorded a time of 50.34 seconds, holding off NC State freshman Xavier Branker, who ran a 50.41 on Saturday. The North Carolina senior became the ACC’s first back-to-back champion in the 400-meter hurdles since fellow Tar Heel Kenny Selmon did so in 2017 and 2018.
The Hokies’ Judson Lincoln IV continued his dominant run throughout the ACC Championships in the 200-meter dash, running a gold medal-winning time of 20.51 seconds. A pair of Clemson standouts took the final two spots on the podium as D’Andre Anderson (20.573) and Cameron (20.579) battled for a photo finish, taking second and third places, respectively.
The Tar Heels took first and second place in the men’s 1,500-meter run with Parker Wolfe leading the charge. Wolfe shattered the meet record with a time of 13:19.38, breaking the previous mark by more than four seconds. His teammate, Alex Phillip, ran a personal-best time of 13:34.11 en route to the silver medal, while Virginia freshman Will Anthony crossed the finish line in 13:40.17 to finish in third place.
In a storybook ending to Virginia Tech head coach Dave Cianelli’s illustrious career in the ACC, the Hokies’ 4x400-meter relay team came from behind to win Cianelli’s final event in the ACC’s Championships. Beginning the final lap in fourth place, the Hokies’ Lincoln IV ran a final lap split of 44.23 to bring the relay championship back to Blacksburg. Clemson ran a season-best 3:03.57 to finish in second place, while Miami’s season-best time of 3:04.65 was good for a third-place finish.
Saturday Event Winners
Women’s Discus Throw
Jayden Ulrich, Louisville, 61.31m (201-1)
Men’s Discus Throw
Milton Ingraham, Miami, 61.32m (201-2)
Women’s High Jump
Madison Schmidt, Notre Dame, 1.82m (5-11.5)
Men’s High Jump
Aidan Clark, Virginia Tech, 2.20m (7-2.5)
Women’s Triple Jump
Victoria Gorlova, Virginia Tech, 13.27m (43-6.5)
Men’s Triple Jump
Jeremiah Davis, Florida State, 16.71m (54-10)
Women’s 4x100-meter Relay
Duke, 43.59
Mia Edim, Abby Geiser, Halle Bieber, Maddy Doane
Men’s 4x100-meter Relay
Florida State, 39.49
Keyshaun Black, Ismael Kone, Alex Collier, Jaiden Rollins
Women’s 1500-meter
Margot Appleton, Virginia, 4:11.04
Men’s 1500-meter
Ethan Strand, North Carolina, 3:40.43
Women’s 110-meter Hurdles
Oneka Wilson, Clemson, 12.87
Men’s 110-meter Hurdles
Tyson Williams, Florida State, 13.62
Women's 400-meter
Lauren Tolbert, Duke, 52.00
Men’s 400-meter
Judson Lincoln IV, Virginia Tech, 44.60*
*- ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships Record
Women's 100-meter
Dajaz DeFrand, 11.08, Florida State
Men’s 100-meter
Ismael Kone, Florida State, 10.25
Women's 800-meter
Gladys Chepngetich, Clemson, 2:02.88
Men’s 800-meter
Tarees Rhoden, Clemson, 1:45.97
Women's 400-meter Hurdles
Skyla Wilson, Duke, 56.05
Men’s 400-meter Hurdles
Craig Saddler II, North Carolina, 49.82
Women's 200-meter
Dajaz DeFrand, Florida State, 22.49
Men’s 200-meter
Judson Lincoln IV, Virginia Tech, 20.51
Women's 5000-meter
Olivia Markezich, Notre Dame, 15:23.14*
*- ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships Record
Men’s 5000-meter
Parker Wolfe, North Carolina, 13:19.38*
*- ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships Record
Women's 4x400-meter Relay
Duke, 3:31.76
Maddy Doane, Megan McGinnis, Meredith Sims, Lauren Tolbert
Men’s 4x400-meter Relay
Virginia Tech, 3:03.53
Kennedy Harrison, Kahleje Tillmon, Nick Plant, Judson Lincoln IV
Final Team Standings (Men)
1 – Virginia, 107
2 – Virginia Tech, 102.33
3 – North Carolina, 102
4 – Florida State, 95
5 – Miami, 83
6 – Clemson, 77.33
7 – Duke, 70.33
8 – Pitt, 37
9 – Notre Dame, 35
T-10 – Syracuse, 30
T-10 – Wake Forest, 30
12 – Louisville
13 – NC State, 13
14 – Georgia Tech, 12
15 – Boston College, 5
Final Team Standings (Women)
1 – Duke, 133
2 – Clemson, 118.5
T-3 – Notre Dame, 74
T-3 – Virginia, 74
5 – Florida State, 68
6 – Miami, 66
7 – Virginia Tech, 63
8 – Louisville, 42
9 – NC State, 39.5
T-10 – Pitt, 37
T-10 – Wake Forest, 37
12 – Georgia Tech, 23
13 – North Carolina, 19
14 – Syracuse, 18
15 – Boston College, 6