Whitfield wins gold to cap off ACC ChampionshipsWhitfield wins gold to cap off ACC Championships
Swimming & Diving

Whitfield wins gold to cap off ACC Championships

Whitfield and Martin medaled in the final days of the 2026 ACC Championships.

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ATLANTA– The Hokies wrapped up ACC Championships with strong performances across the board, highlighted by a gold medal from Brendan Whitfield in the 100 free (40.93). 

At the conclusion of the meet, the Virginia Tech men finished fifth overall, while the women's team placed ninth overall. The Hokies finished the week with six school records, three medals, and 46 program top-10 times. These contributions came from veterans and newcomers alike, showing the program's continued upward trajectory in one of the nation's most competitive conferences. 

Leading the way was Brendan Whitfield, who captured the gold in the men's 100 freestyle with a record-breaking time of 40.93. This victory marked Whitfield's first career ACC title, a milestone moment in his Hokie career. The win followed his silver medal in the 50 free earlier in the week, logging an 18.62-second swim.  

Eli Martin also had a standout week for the Hokies, bringing home silver with a 51.36 in the 100 breast. His swim in the 200 breast earned him fourth place, hitting the wall at 1:51.49. 

On the women’s side, the 400 freestyle relay made history with a school record time of 3:12.45, adding to the Hokies’ record-setting momentum throughout the championship. 

In the 2026 race for the Commonwealth Cup, the Hokie men beat out the Cavaliers 715.5 to 577.5, adding a point to the Hokies’ score. The women fell 409.5 to 1410.5 to the 2026 ACC Champions, giving up the point. This brings the Commonwealth Clash to 7.5-3.5 in favor of UVA. 

School Records
Carmen Weiler Sastre, 200 free (R), 1:42.73
Brendan Whitfield, 200 free (R), 1:31.62
Brendan Whitfield, 50 free, 18.62
Whitfield, Diego Aranda, Tanish George Mathew, Javier Nuñez, 200 free relay, 1:15.00
Brendan Whitfield, 100 free, 40.93
Weiler Sastre, Claesson, Gyurinovics, Tan, 400 free relay, 3:12.45

A-Final Finishes:
1st, Brendan Whitfield, 100 free
2nd, Brendan Whitfield, 50 free, 18.72
2nd, Eli Martin, 100 breast, 51.36
4th, Eli Martin, 100 breast
5th, Carmen Weiler Sastre, 200 free, 1:43.14
5th, Brendan Whitfield, 200 free, 1:31.84
7th, Landon Gentry 200 fly, 1:41.49
8th, Ethan Maloney, 100 breast, 52.18

Top Ten Times
1st, Brendan Whitfield, 50 free, 18.62
1st, Brendan Whitfield, 100 free, 40.93
1st, Brendan Whitfield, 200 free, 1:31.62
1st, Carmen Weiler Sastre, 200 free, 1:42.73
1st, Weiler Sastre, Claesson, Gyurinovics, Tan, 400 free relay, 3:12.45
1st, Whitfield, Aranda, George Mathew, Nuñez, 200 free relay, 1:15.00 
2nd, Eli Martin, 100 breast, 51.29
2nd, Eli Martin, 200 breast, 1:51.10
2nd, Balogh, Martin, William Hayon, Whitfield, 400 medley relay, 3:01.86
2nd, Levente Balogh, 200 back, 1:39.22
3rd, Andy Roose, 200 back, 1:39.37
3rd, Javier Nuñez, 50 free, 19.14
3rd, Emily Claesson, 100 free, 47.97
4th, Diego Aranda, 50 free, 19.16
4th, Athena Meneses Kovacs, 50 back, 24.88
4th, Ethan Maloney, 100 breast, 51.73
4th, Lee Naber, 500 free, 4:16.31
4th, Lee Naber, 1650 free, 15:03.43
4th, Whitfield, Jakub Poliacik, Hayden Annan, Naber, 800 free relay, 6:13.32
5th, Eli Martin, 200 IM, 1:44.03
5th, Andy Roose, 400 IM, 3:44.56
5th, Levente Balogh, 100 back, 45.67 
5th, Oscar Bilbao, 200 breast, 1:52.75
5th, Jakub Poliacik, 500 free, 4:17.64
5th, Weiler Sastre, Santos, Meneses Kovacs, Claesson, 400 medley relay, 3:33.15
6th, Oscar Bilbao, 200 IM, 1:44.21
6th, Oscar Bilbao, 100 breast, 52.22
6th, Connor Johnson, 50 back, 21.37
6th, Connor Johnson, 100 back, 45.84
6th, Tanish George Mathew, 19.26
6th, Weiler Sastre, Claesson, Gyurinovics, Tan, 200 free relay, 1:28.65
7th, Julia Murphy, 100 fly, 52.79
7th, Carl Bloebaum, 100 fly, 45.65
7th, Andy Roose, 100 back, 46.10
7th, Noa Martin, 500 free, 4:44.98   
8th, Julia Murphy, 100 fly, 52.79
8th, Weiler Sastre, Claesson, Klein, Meneses Kovacs, 800 free relay, 7:03.27
8th, Whitfield, Hayon, Nunez, George Mathew, 400 free relay, 2:48.10
9th, Javier Nuñez, 100 free, 42.86
9th, Connor Johnson, 200 back, 1:41.07
9th, Esther Park, 200 breast, 2:13.93
9th, Lee Naber, 500 free, 4:19.37
10th, Noa Martin, 1650 free, 16:29.10
10th, Julia Murphy, 100 fly, 53.02
10th, Johnson, Martin, Hayon, George Mathew, 200 medley relay, 1:23.75

Final Standings: Women

  1. UVA, 1410.5
  2. Stanford, 1039
  3. Cal, 1027.5
  4. Louisville, 925
  5. NC State, 851.5
  6. Pitt, 552
  7. University of North Carolina, 522.5
  8. Duke, 432.5
  9. Virginia Tech, 409.5
  10. Florida State, 371
  11. Notre Dame, 366
  12. University of Miami, 322
  13. Georgia Tech, 274
  14. SMU, 261
  15. Boston College: 98

Final Standings: Men

  1. Cal, 1154
  2. Stanford, 10765
  3. NC State, 973
  4. Louisville, 844
  5. Virginia Tech, 715.5
  6. Florida State, 624.5
  7. University of Virginia, 577.5
  8. University of North Carolina, 572.5
  9. Notre Dame, 488
  10. SMU, 407
  11. Pitt, 401
  12. Georgia Tech, 357
  13. University of Miami, 162
  14. Duke, 138
  15. Boston College, 112

Next Up:
The Hokies travel to Knoxville, Tenn., for the Last Chance Meet from Feb. 27-28.