BLAKCSBURG – Virginia Tech track & field swept the 2022 ACC Indoor Championships this weekend, as the men's team picked up a second-straight title and the women's team were crowned co-champions of the conference to earn the Hokies their 18th and 19th ACC championships.
"Every championship is special, they're all different, and for this crew and all the new faces to come here and buy into our philosophy and vision really says a lot about the coaching staff and the type of student athletes that we attract," Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Dave Cianelli said. "The conference is getting better every year and the quality is so good now, to win a championship like this is really difficult, so I want them to really enjoy this."
The Hokies' double title-winning performance in Rector Field House marks the first time in ACC history that a host school has won both the men's and women's championships, indoors or outdoors. As the men's team claimed their second consecutive indoor title with 105 points, they have now won four of the last six ACC Indoor Championships and seven of the last 12. The women's squad have now won 2 of the last 3 indoor titles as they picked up their fourth indoor ACC trophy.
On championship Saturday the Hokies turned in record-setting performances to pick up individual titles en route to the team championships. Lindsey Butler ran one of the greatest 800m races in NCAA and ACC history, going 2:01.23 to win the ACC crown. Butler's time leads the NCAA this year, ranks No. 9 all-time collegiately, ranks No. 17 in the world this year, and breaks the ACC Championships record, Rector Field House record, and her own school record.
Cole Beck fed off the energy in Rector to storm home and claim the 200m ACC title. The Blacksburg native posted a time of 20.95 to finish first, adding the indoor 200m to his title outdoors in the 100m. Joining Beck in the scoring were Kahleje "KJ" Tillmon (4th), Torrence Walker (6th), and Kennedy Harrison (7th) as the Hokies secured 20 points in the event to distance themselves from the rest of the conference in team standings. Beck also finished third in the 60m, his performances across the weekend earning him Men's Track MVP for the championships.
Following her long jump performance on Friday, Victoria Gorlova dominated the field of athletes in Saturday's triple jump competition. The first-year Hokie flew down the runway for a best mark of 13.47m (44' 2.5"), 43 centimeters better than anyone else in the event. Gorlova's win in the triple jump along with her points in the long jump meant that she earned Women's Field MVP as the highest scoring women's field athlete at the championships.
Tech picked up four other medals during Saturday's competition, as Chauncey Chambers finished second in the men's triple jump with a lifetime-best leap of 16.29m (53' 5.5"). His jump earned eight team points for the Hokies and marked the first time in the junior's illustrious career that he jumped over 16 meters. Freshman Barbora Malíková finished second in the 400m at her first ACC Championships, running 53.32 seconds in only her second ever collegiate 400m. Antonio Lopez Segura added a silver medal in the 3,000m to his gold from the DMR, finishing under the previous Rector Field House facility record with his time of 7:50.42. Conner McClure earned some silverware at his first career conference meet, as the freshman finished third in the men's pole vault with his clearance of 5.26m (17' 3").
Virginia Tech track & field looks to follow up its historic sweep of the 2022 ACC Indoor Championships with success in Birmingham, Ala. at the 2022 NCAA Indoor Championships that will run March 11-12. Entries to the national meet are scheduled to be released tomorrow, Tuesday, March 1 by the NCAA.
Keep reading for a full list of honors earned by the Hokies at the ACC Indoor Championships.
ACC Indoor Championships Track MVP (Men)
Cole Beck
ACC Indoor Championships Field MVP (Women)
Victoria Gorlova
First Team All-ACC Indoor (Men)
Cole Beck (60m, 200m) – champion in 200m
Chauncey Chambers (triple jump)
Ben Fleming (DMR) – champion
Patrick Forrest (DMR) – champion
Christian Jackson (DMR) – champion
Antonio Lopez Segura (3,000m, DMR) – champion in DMR
Conner McClure (pole vault)
Alexios Prodanas (weight throw)
Jake Spotswood (heptathlon)
Second Team All-ACC Indoor (Men)
Aidan Clark (high jump)
Kennedy Harrison (200m, 400m)
Tyson Jones (shot put)
Sam McLendon (60m hurdles)
Harrison Rice (pole vault)
Jacob Rice (pole vault)
Kahleje "KJ" Tillmon (200m)
First Team All-ACC Indoor (Women)
Hannah Ballowe (DMR) – champion
Rachel Baxter (pole vault) – champion
Lindsey Butler (800m, DMR) – champion in both
Julia Fixsen (pole vault)
Victoria Gorlova (triple jump) – champion
Sara Killinen (weight throw)
Barbora Malíková (400m)
Rebecca Mammel (weight throw) – champion
Star Price (DMR) – champion
Leigha Torino (DMR) – champion
Second Team All-ACC Indoor (Women)
Layla Anderson (60m hurdles)
Victoria Gorlova (long jump)
