Hokie ClubLYNCHBURG, Va. — Maddox Hamm highlighted Virginia Tech’s season opener with a record-breaking pole vault performance at the Liberty Kickoff, while Chiara Sistermann added a women’s victory to cap a strong start for the Hokies.
Hamm opened the season with a career-best 5.70 m (18' 8.25"), winning the event and breaking both the Virginia Tech indoor track and field program record and the ACC indoor record. The previous marks were 5.66m (18' 6.75") by Deakin Volz in 2017 (Virginia Tech) and 5.67m (18' 7.25") by Sondre Guttormsen of Duke in 2025 for the ACC record.
He was followed by teammate Conner McCLure, who finished third with a clearance of 5.20m (17' 0.5") while competing unattached.
Sistermann led the way on the women’s side, clearing 4.20m (13' 9.25") to take first place and open her season on a strong note.
On the women’s side, Erin Kelleher (Unattached) cleared 3.90m (12' 9.5") to finish fourth, while Kelsey Lovercheck recorded 3.75m (12' 3.5") for ninth place.
Up Next
George Couttie and Nicholas Kipchirchir will head north to compete at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener at Boston University on Saturday, Dec. 5. Couttie will race in the 3,000 meters at 3:39 p.m. ET, and Kipchirchir will compete in the 5,000 meters at 7:29 p.m. ET. The meet will stream live on FloTrack.