SOUTH BEND, Ind. – At the ACC Cross Country Championships, the Hokies squads battled with strong conference opponents and a fast course to a pair of top-10 team results. Lindsey Butler led the way for Tech on the individual side, earning All-ACC honors with her 15th-place finish.
Friday's championships at the Burke Cross Country Course got underway with the women's 6k at 10:10 a.m., and Butler continued her impressive season with a top-21 finish, good for all-conference recognition. The junior from Corning, N.Y. made up six spots in the final 1.2 kilometers to cross the line in 20:46.0, taking 15th place and the Hokies' first All-ACC honor in the women's championship since 2019. Joining Butler in the top 50 of the women's championship were Ava Hassebrock, who finished in 39th with a time of 21:14.9, and Ashley Smith whose time of 21:23.0 saw her take 48th.
The men hit the 8k course at 11 a.m. and were led across the line by Ben Fleming who took 25th with his time of 24:19.8. Fleming sat in 50th place after 3.2k and held 41st with just two kilometers remaining, but his surge across the final split saw him dart through the field to finish as the fastest Hokie on the day. Next to join Fleming past the finish line were Colby Burcham, who took 58th with a time of 24:46.5 and Antonio Lopez Segura with his 60th place finish at 24:47.0.
Butler and the women's squad finished in 7th as a team with 219 points, and Fleming led the men's squad to a 9th place finish with 273 points. NC State won the team championship on the women's side, while Notre Dame took the title for the men's championship.
Friday's finishes meant that the Hokies split the two available points in the Commonwealth Clash, with Tech's women's team finishing above UVA to earn the point, and Virginia taking the point on the men's side by finishing in 8th above the Hokies.
The results at the ACC Championships give the Hokies and Cavaliers one point each in the Commonwealth Clash, presented by Smithfield. The score for the Commonwealth Clash currently is 2-1 in favor of Virginia Tech. For more information, visit hokiesports.com/clash.
RESULTS
Women's 6k
15. Lindsey Butler – 20:46.0 (All-ACC)
39. Ava Hassebrock – 21:14.9
48. Ashley Smith – 21:23.0
69. Leigha Torino – 21:48.0
75. Hannah Ballowe – 21:56.0
91. Lauren Petranek – 22:20.4
97. Ellie Brush – 22:31.1
98. Amy Herrema – 22:34.5
114. Maxana Grubb – 22:59.3
Team: 7th, 219 points
Men's 8k
25. Ben Fleming – 24:19.8
58. Colby Burcham – 24:46.5
60. Antonio Lopez Segura – 24:47.0
77. Tyler Leeser – 25:02.7
83. Ethan Mills – 25:11.2
92. Clint Gault – 25:27.9
94. Dave Whitfield – 25:31.9
104. Arnav Tikhe – 26:01.7
117. Will Mackenzie – 26:46.1
Team: 9th, 273 points
Gallery: (11-1-2021) XC: 2021 ACC Championships