CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Using gold medal performances from freshmen Jacory Patterson and Miles Green and sophomore Bashir Mosavel-Lo, the Virginia Tech men's track and field team won the team title at the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday at soggy Lannigan Field.
The title marked the second of the academic year for the Tech men, who shared the league's indoor championship with Florida State. On Saturday, the Hokies finished with 123 points, out-distancing rival Virginia and the Seminoles, who finished with 117 and 102.5 points, respectively.
The Tech men's track and field program now has won nine ACC championships under Dave Cianelli, Tech's director of track and field and cross country, since the school joined the league for the 2004-05 season. The Hokies have won four outdoor league titles, including championships in three of the past four seasons.
"It's sweet," an emotional Cianelli said. "We brought 29 guys to the meet and 17 are freshmen. That's just incredible, but they proved during indoors [the ACC Indoor Championships] that they could compete for a championship. But coming here against a really, really good Virginia team and Florida State every year is great, but coming here and doing it on Virginia's track is tough. It's tough to come into somebody's house. We had to be close to perfect, and we weren't far from it. That was the difference."
Behind two gold medals from senior standout Rachel Pocratsky, the Tech women's team finished in fourth place with 77 points. Florida State took the team title on the women's side with 134 points
In surprising fashion, the Tech men were led by their sprinters, who came up big on the final day. Patterson competed in four events Saturday, starting with his specialty – the 400-meter dash. He won the 400-meter dash at the ACC Indoor Championships in February, and did so again, winning in a time of 45.60 seconds. Later in the afternoon, he won a silver medal in the 200, finishing the event in a time of 20.77 seconds.
Patterson also ran on both of the Hokies' relay teams. He was the second leg on the Hokies' 4x100-meter relay team that also consisted of Joseph Tay, Michael Davenport and Cole Beck, and that quartet took the silver medal in a school-record time of 39.46 seconds. Then he anchored the 4x400 relay team of Green, Davenport, and Mosavel-Lo that wound up fourth with a time of 3:13.49.
"He went out and did a great job," Tech sprints coach Tim Vaught said of Patterson. "I knew the key [to running four events] was going to be the recovery in between and telling him what to do and that type of stuff. I knew he was tough enough and strong enough to be able to handle those events."
Green took the gold in the 400-meter hurdles for his first ACC medal. He stayed near the top for much of the race and then used a final burst to cross the finish line first, running the event in a personal-best time of 50.32 seconds – the second-fastest time in program history.
"I told Miles that the guys in front of him had run fast one time," Vaught said. "I said, 'You look at it, and they haven't run fast since the first outdoor meet. If you go out there and execute your race, anything can happen.'
"You got confidence because you see how practice is going, and we worked on his steps, so we knew he's looking good. I told him that as long as he executed his race, good things were going to happen. When he came off the turn, I saw his face, and he was so determined. When he cleared the last hurdle, I knew he was going to win it."
Mosavel-Lo also won his first individual ACC gold medal, taking first in the 800. The sophomore took the lead with roughly 100 meters to go and held off Duke's Matt Wisner and Georgia Tech's Avery Bartlett, winning in a time of 1 minute, 49.90 seconds.
"Bashir just keeps continuing to step it up," Tech distance coach Eric Johannigmeier said. "Every time we ask him to do something, he doesn't bat an eye. He knows what he wants, and he's doing it. I'm really impressed with the progress he's made … He keeps doing well, and he's winning. Great to see him win his first ACC title. Hopefully it's the first of many."
For more on what transpired on the final day:
JUMPS
Eszter Bajnok was named the ACC Women's Field Performer of the Meet after another strong performance. Coming off a fourth-place finish in the long jump on Friday, Bajnok took the silver medal in the triple jump with a school-record leap of 13.66 meters (44 feet, 9.75 inches).
"For her to have a legal wind jump of that length was awesome for her, and she was really excited when it happened," Tech jumps coach Paul Zalewski said. "I couldn't be more proud of her. She came out and competed. She was ranked third coming in … Eszter came in and performed the best she ever has. What more can you ask from a kid than to perform their best when they need to be at their best?"
On the men's side, freshman Chauncy Chambers scored for the Hokies, finishing seventh in the triple jump. His top jump was 15.29 meters (50 feet, 2 inches).
DISTANCE
Competing in her final ACC meet, Pocratsky was her usual dominant self. For the second straight year at the ACC outdoor meet, she won two individual gold medals, taking the top spot in both the 800 and the 1,500. She easily won both, taking the 800 in a time of 2:04.52 and the 1,500 in a time of 4:18.42.
"Rachel with a great performance, as always," Johannigmeier said. "She makes it look easy, but it's not."
Pocratsky has won six individual gold medals in her career.
"Consistent," Cianelli said. "Professional. She takes care of all the little things and is a great competitor on the day. To come in and do another double and beat two really good fields … coming back in the 800 when a lot of those women had not run in the 1,500 and winning it, that just shows what type of competitor she is. She's been the backbone of our program the last couple of years in the middle distances, and it's going to be tough to see her graduate."
Also in the 1,500, Sarah Edwards won the silver medal, finishing just behind Pocratsky with a time of 4:18.91. Edwards now has three individual ACC medals in her career – including two gold medals.
Sarah Freix and Ellie Brush also scored for the Hokies. Freix came in seventh in the 5,000 with a time of 16:15.04, while Brush came in eighth in the 800 in a time of 2:13.09.
On the men's side, Jack Joyce and Matthias Cannon scored points in the 1,500. Joyce finished sixth with a time of 3:45.11, while Cannon came in seventh with a time of 3:45.99.
"We kind of knew what was going to happen in that race, but until you do that and go out that fast, you don't realize how much it hurts," Johannigmeier said. "We went out and we knew we needed to score points, especially knowing that there was a guy from UVA in the race. We knew it was going to be critical to be in front of him. For both of them, it was their first 1,500 final, and so for them to both score and both PR in the race … I'm really happy with that and pleased to see them continue to improve."
SPRINTS
In addition to running on the 4x100 relay team, Beck ran in the 100 and came in fourth with a personal-best time of 10.22 seconds.
On the women's side, both Arlicia Bush and Imagine Patterson each scored for the Hokies. Bush finished fourth in the 400 with a time of 53.73 seconds, while Patterson came in seventh in the 400 hurdles with a time of 1:01.70.
COMMONWEALTH CLASH
The Tech-UVA track and field competition annually is part of the Commonwealth Clash, a points-based competition between the two schools in which the schools fight for a point among the sports in which they compete. The Commonwealth Clash is presented by Virginia529, the official college savings plan of Virginia Tech Athletics and the University of Virginia Athletics. The Hokies and 'Hoos each won a single point at the 2019 ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships and the score for the Commonwealth Clash is now 11.5 to 9.5 in favor of Virginia. Learn more about Virginia529 and this competition at www.thecommonwealthclash.com.
UP NEXT
A select group of Hokies will compete in the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds slated for May 23-25 in Jacksonville, Florida. Performances in this meet will determine who qualifies for the NCAA Outdoor Championships June 5-8 in Austin, Texas.
PERSONAL BESTS
Women's 1,500
Sarah Edwards (4:18.91)
Men's 1,500
Jack Joyce (3:45.11)
Matthias Cannon (3:45.99)
Men's 100
Cole Beck (10.22)
Men's 400 hurdles
Miles Green (50.32)
Men's 5,000
Fitsum Seyoum (14:37.73)
Gallery: (5/11/2019) 2019 ACC OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD DAY THREE
(DAY 2)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Career-first outdoor gold medals by Jaelyn Demory (decathlon), Fitsum Seyoum (3,000 steeplechase) and Deakin Volz (pole vault) highlighted day No. 2 for the Virginia Tech track and field teams at the ACC Outdoor Championships.
In his final ACC Outdoor Championships, Volz leaped a season best 5.62 meters (18 feet, 5.25 inches), a mark that set a Lannigan Field Facility Record and gave him his first ACC outdoor pole vault title.
"Deakin did a great job today in some tough crosswinds," Tech pole vault coach Bob Philips said. "He was really focused and had some nice attempts at 5.71 meters, which would have been a school record and the qualifying height for the world championships. So we'll work to get this tuned up for the national meet."
After finishing third last year in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase, Seyoum had his eyes on winning the event. With 400 meters remaining and another runner right on his tail, he was able to hold him off, as he turned in a personal-best time of 8 minutes, 44.43 seconds to win his first ACC title. Will Griffen ran a personal-best time of 9:04.21 to place seventh and pick up two points for the men's team.
In the women's 3,000 steeplechase, Kayla Richardson earned second-team All-ACC honors, as she placed sixth with her time of 10:33.97.
In the 800-meter preliminaries, the Hokies had two women to qualify for the finals, as Rachel Pocratsky won her heat with time of 2:06.39, while Ellie Brush qualified with a time of 2:07.94. On the men's side, Bashir Mosavel-Lo was the lone Hokie to qualify and stood out doing it, as he won his heat with a time of 1:51.19.
The men's throws group came up big, with Isaiah Rogers finishing second in the shot put with an all-time personal-best mark of 18.53 meters (60 feet, 9.5 inches) and Tyson Jones claiming third with his throw of 18.28 meters (59 feet, 11.75 inches).
"Oh man, what a day," Tech throws coach Andrew Dubs said. "Just absolutely incredible. For both of those guys to compete the way they did, coming in ranked fifth and eighth, respectively, to finish second and third was just outstanding. That was a true team effort, helping out their team when really needed."
Rogers then went and threw a personal best for the second time of the day, as finished fifth in the men's hammer throw with a mark of 62.26 meters (204 feet, 3 inches).
"Then for Isaiah to come back 90 minutes later and have a two-meter PR in the hammer, just unbelievable," Dubs said. "Isaiah Rogers is the definition of a gamer. What he did out there today was not something you see everyday. He was simply outstanding."
Arlicia Bush was the first sprinter to qualify for the finals on the day, as she ran a season-best time of 54.14 in the women's 400-meter dash. Jacory Patterson qualified in the 400 on the men's side when he clocked personal-best time of 45.57, which was the fastest time of the day and two-tenths of second faster than his previous school-record time of 45.76. Cole Beck qualified for the finals in the men's 100-meter dash with his time of 10.29.
Coming into the day, the Hokies were feeling confident about their standings in the decathlon, with Sean Murphy in second (3,674 points) and Demory in fourth (3,574 points).
"The performance that these guys put in this weekend was quite simply amazing," jumps/multi-events coach Paul Zalewski said. "I knew we had a chance to do good things in the decathlon, and these men were everything and more."
After finishing third in the 110-meter hurdles (15.01), third in the discus throw (34.95 meters; 114 feet, 8 inches), first in the pole vault (4.90 meters; 16 feet, 0.75 inches), seventh in the javelin throw (44.67 meters; 146 feet, 6 inches) and second in the 1,500 meters (4:51.87), Demory totaled 6,982 points and became the first Hokie to win the men's ACC outdoor decathlon. His points total also broke Ed Nuttycombe's (6,951 points) 43-year-old school record.
"Jaelyn went true warrior these last two days," Zalewski said. "This was his first ever decathlon, and he dropped PR after PR and proved himself as a consummate competitor. There was no quit in him. To earn a conference championship and to break a 43-year-old school record, I couldn't be more proud of that young man."
Murphy also kept up his momentum in the second day, as he tallied 6,588 points to finish third in the decathlon and earn first-team All-ACC honors.
"Sean was beyond impressive," Zalewski said. "He's a freshman that struggled through injuries all season. This was the first decathlon of his career as well, and he showed himself to be someone that has a real future in the event. I'm so proud of him."
Gallery: (5/10/2019) 2019 ACC OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD DAY TWO
UP NEXT
Due to the potential of bad weather later in the day, Saturday's action has been moved up 3.5 hours earlier than originally scheduled. Action will begin at 10 a.m., with the men's discus, and ACC Network Extra will bring live action from noon-3 p.m.
REMAINING WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Sat. | ACCs | 10:00 p.m. ET | Live Results | Live Stream
OUTDOOR PERSONAL BESTS
Men's 110 Hurdles
John Manilli (16.17)
Men's Pole Vault
Deakin Volz (5.62 meters; 18 feet, 5.25 inches)
Sean Murphy (3.70 meters; 12 feet, 1.5 inches)
John Manilli (3.20 meters; 10 feet, 6 inches)
Men's Javelin Throw
Sean Murphy (53.06 meters; 174 feet, 1 inch)
Jaelyn Demory (44.67 meters; 146 feet, 6 inches)
Men's Shot Put
Isaiah Rogers (18.53 meters; 60 feet, 9.5 inches)
Men's 1500 Meters
Jaelyn Demory (4:51.87)
Sean Murphy (4:52.43)
John Manilli (4:55.73)
Men's Decathlon
Jaelyn Demory (6,982 points)
Sean Murphy (6,588 points)
John Manilli (5,735 points)
Men's 400 Meters
Jacory Patterson (45.57)
Eldon Phillips (48.91)
Men's 100 Meters
Cole Beck (10.29)
Joseph Tay (10.71)
Men's 3,000 Meter Steeplechase
Fitsum Seyoum (8:44.43)
Will Griffen (9:04.21)
Men's Hammer Throw
Isaiah Rogers (62.26 meters; 204 feet, 3 inches)
(DAY ONE)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Podium finishes by Emma Thor, Pavla Kuklova, Sara Freix, and a fourth-place finish by Eszter Bajnok highlighted the Virginia Tech track and field teams' performances on the first day of the ACC Outdoor Championships being held at Lannigan Field.
With the help of two throwers, one jumper and a distance runner, the Tech women's team picked up 25 points, which ties Notre Dame for second and only trails Florida State, which has 39.
Kuklova finished second in the hammer throw with her toss of 65.78 meters (215 feet,10 inches), while last year's champion, Thor, threw an all-time best 65.31 meters (214 feet, 3 inches) to finish third. With their podium finishes, the duo earned first-team All-ACC honors and placed in the top three for second straight year.
"It's been up and down season for Pavla and Emma, as we have been working on a lot of things, but I'm really proud of the way that they came out," Tech throws coach Andrew Dubs said. "We knew it was going to be a difficult, and for them to come out and have the day they had, it was just amazing. Hats off to Emma. For her to come out today and do what she did, I don't have any words for that. She had the three best throws of her life. Pavla's goal was to win, but she gave it a great effort and hats off to her. It was a heavyweight title fight out there today, and they gave it the best they had. We're really happy to come away with 14 points."
In the long jump, defending champion Bajnok leaped an outdoor personal best and set new school record with her mark of 6.24 meters (20 feet, 5.75 feet) to place fourth and earn second-team All-ACC distinction.
"Eszter had a very good meet against some great competition," Tech jumps/multi-events coach Paul Zalewski said. "She jumped a new school record of 20 feet, 5.75 inches (6.24m) and was able to have her best series she's ever had. She came in ranked 12th in the conference and finished fourth. I'm really proud of her. Her performance today bodes well for her getting ready for the triple jump on Saturday."
With only 50 meters remaining in the 10,000, Freix was able to find another gear, as she passed Wake Forest's Samantha Halvorsen (34:02.82) to earn a third-place finish with a personal-best time of 34 minutes; 02.82 seconds, giving her first team All-ACC honors.
"Freix ran a great race in the 10k," Tech distance coach Eric Johannigmeier said. "She was just resilient the whole way. She wasn't afraid to get after it and challenged herself. It really bodes well for regionals coming up."
In the 1,500-meter preliminary race, five Hokies qualified for the finals. Sarah Edwards took first with a personal-best time of 4:19,84, Rachel Pocratsky (4:22.89) placed fifth, and Lauren Berman (4:23.39) took seventh. On the men's side, Jack Joyce (3:47.21) placed second and Matthias Cannon (3:53.45) finished 11th.
"For Lauren Berman to come out in her first 1,500 and advance to the finals was great," Johannigmeier said. "Lauren and Rachel did a really great job of controlling their race together. Sarah Edwards running a PR in the prelims showed that she is ready for the finals. I think all three are going to be ready."
"On the men's side, it was a very tactical race from Matthias Cannon. It's good to make the finals as a freshman. It was Jack Joyce's first 1,500 prelim, and he looked like he has been doing it for years."
The sprints group saw four Hokies qualify for the finals. Imagine Patterson turned in a time of 1:00.44 in the women's 400-meter hurdles, while Miles Green qualified with his time of 52.01 on the men's side. In the 200, Jacory Patterson was in complete control as he stared to back off with 80 meters left in the race, but that didn't stop the freshman from running a personal best time of 20.57 to take first place. Cole Beck placed fourth with a personal best time of 20.98.
Gallery: (5/9/2019) 2019 ACC OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD DAY ONE
The decathlon started the day, as Jaelyn Demory led a trio of Hokies with a first-place finish in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.01 seconds. John Manilli placed fifth with his time of 11.45, while Sean Murphy finished seventh with a time of 11.51. In the long jump, Demory (6.61 meters; 21 feet, 8.25 inches) placed fifth, Manilli (6.52 meters; 21 feet, 4.75 inches) finished seventh and Murphy (6.48 meters; 21 feet, 3.25 inches) took eighth.
Murphy threw a personal-best 12.21 meters (40 feet, 0.75 inches) in the shot put, as he tallied his first win of the day. Demory took second with his mark of 12.20 meters (40 feet, 0.75 inches), while Manilli placed eighth with a toss of 10.68 meters (35 feet, 0.5 inches).
Murphy won his second event with a leap of 2.02 meters (6 feet, 7.5 inches) in the high jump. Manilli (1.87 meters; 6 feet, 1.5 inches) placed fourth and Demory (1.69 meters; 5 feet, 6.5 inches) finished ninth. In the 400, the decathlon's final event of the day, Demory (49.49) finished second, Manilli (50.68) was third and Murphy (50.74) placed fourth.
After one day, Murphy (3,674 points) sits in second, Demory (3,574 points) is fourth and Manilli (3,454 points) holds eighth place in the decathlon.
"The decathlon guys had an absolutely incredible start today," Zalewski said. "I think, between them, there were 10 lifetime bests out of 15 events. They really showed up today and did a phenomenal job. We are sitting in really good positions going into the second day, so I'm excited to see them finish this thing off right."
UP NEXT
Friday's action will begin at 11 a.m. ET with the decathlon's 110-meter hurdles. ACC Network Extra will bring the live action on Friday, airing from 4:00-8:30 p.m.
REMAINING WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Fri. | ACCs | 11:00 a.m. ET | Live Results | Live Stream
Sat. | ACCs | 1:30 p.m. ET | Live Results | Live Stream
OUTDOOR PERSONAL BESTS
Men's 100 Meters
Jaelyn Demory (11.01)
John Manilli (11.45)
Sean Murphy (11.51)
Men's Long Jump
Jaelyn Demory (6.61 meters; 21 feet, 8.25 inches)
John Manilli (6.52 meters; 21 feet, 4.75 inches)
Sean Murphy (6.48 meters; 21 feet, 3.25 inches)
Women's Hammer Throw
Emma Thor (65.31 meters; 214 feet, 3 inches)
Kajsa Wennberg (60.19 meters; 197 feet, 5 inches)
Men's Shot Put
Sean Murphy (12.21 meters; 40 feet, 0.75 inches)
Jaelyn Demory (12.20 meters; 40 feet, 0.5 inches)
John Manilli (10.68 meters; 35 feet, 0.5 inches)
Men's High Jump
Sean Murphy (2.02 meters; 6 feet, 7.5 inches)
John Manilli (1.87 meters; 6 feet, 1.5 inches)
Jaelyn Demory (1.69 meters; 5 feet, 6.5 inches)
Men's 400 Meters
Jaelyn Demory (48.89)
John Manilli (50.86)
Sean Murphy (50.74)
Women's 400 Meter Hurdles
Imagine Patterson (1:00.44)
Men's 200 Meter
Jacory Patterson (20.57)
Cole Beck (20.98)
Women's 1,500 Meters
Sarah Edwards (4:19.84)
Lauren Berman (4:23.39)
Women's Long Jump
Eszter Bajnok (6.24 meters; 20 feet, 5.75 inches)
Women's Javelin Throw
Stefanie Aeschlimann (41.69 meters; 136 feet, 9 inches)