Hokies Open ACC Championships with Podium Finishes, Program Top-10 MarksHokies Open ACC Championships with Podium Finishes, Program Top-10 Marks
Track & Field

Hokies Open ACC Championships with Podium Finishes, Program Top-10 Marks

Virginia Tech men sit third after Day 1 as standout performances in the pole vault, and decathlon highlight action in Louisville.

Pledge Per Stay Connected Day 1 Results

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Virginia Tech track and field team opened the 2026 Atlantic Coast Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Thursday with personal bests, all-time top-10 marks and podium finishes at Cardinal Track Stadium. The Hokie men sit in third place after Day 1 with 20 points, while the women are sixth with 14 points.

The men’s pole vault squad led the way, as three Hokies scored team points. Maddox Hamm placed second and Conner McClure finished third after each cleared 5.43 meters (17 feet, 9 3/4 inches). Jack Helmich added a seventh-place finish with an outdoor personal best of 5.08m (16 feet, 8 inches), climbing from his No. 16 seed position to help the Hokies total 16 points in the event.

Nicholas Kipchirchir earned his first outdoor All-ACC honors in the 10,000 meters, placing fourth in 29:41.07 - earning five points for Tech.

Nabil Tezkratt moved into Virginia Tech’s all-time top 10 in the 200-meter preliminaries with a personal-best 20.81, ranking No. 10 in program history. He advances to Saturday’s final at 6:20 p.m. ET and is also scheduled to compete in the 400-meter preliminaries Friday at 5:40 p.m.

Nick Plant also qualified for Saturday’s final in the 1,500 meters, clocking 3:40.96 to secure his spot in the championship race at 4:20 p.m.

In the decathlon, Nate Paris opened with a standout performance in the 100 meters, winning the event in a personal-best 10.37 to earn 1,006 points — the only athlete in the ACC to surpass 1,000 points in the event at the competition. Paris also placed second in the long jump with a season-best 7.35m (24 feet, 1 1/2 inches) for 898 points and recorded a personal-best 13.16m (43 feet, 2 1/4 inches) in the shot put for 677 points.

Competing in his first ACC Championship decathlon, Stuart Pirtle ended Day 1 in second place with 4,013 points. His strong performance was highlighted by a season-best 10.83 in the 100 meters, where he earned 899 points. Pirtle also recorded a mark of 6.85m (22 feet, 5 3/4 inches) in the long jump for 859 points. In the shot put, he posted a personal-best throw of 13.46m (44 feet, 2 inches) to finish third and score 695 points. He added a runner-up finish in the high jump after clearing 1.98m (6 feet, 6 inches) for 785 points and closed the day with a third-place finish in the 400 meters in 49.11, earning 856 points.

On the women’s side, Chiara Sistermann earned six points with a third-place finish in the pole vault, clearing 4.33m (14 feet, 2 1/2 inches) to collect her sixth career All-ACC honor.

Mariana Pestana closed the day with a silver-medal performance in the hammer throw, recording a personal-best 66.98m (219 feet, 9 inches) to move to No. 2 all-time in Virginia Tech history and earn First Team All-ACC honors.

Day 1 Team Standings
Men — third place (20 points)
Women — sixth place (14 points)

Up Next
Day 2 of competition at Cardinal Track Stadium will begin Friday at 11 a.m. ET with the decathlon. Field events are scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m., followed by track events at 5 p.m. ET.

 

Day 1 Results

WOMEN

Pole Vault

Hammer Throw

  • Mariana Pestana — 2nd, 66.98m (219-9), personal best, No. 2 all-time at Virginia Tech

1,500 Meters

MEN

Decathlon — Day 1

Stuart Pirtle — 2nd, 4,013 points

  • 100 meters — 6th, 10.83 (899 points, season best)
  • Long jump — 7th, 6.85m (22-5 3/4) (859 points)
  • Shot put — 3rd, 13.46m (44-2) (695 points, personal best)
  • High jump — 2nd, 1.98m (6-6) (785 points)
  • 400 meters — 3rd, 49.11 (856 points)

Nate Paris — DNF

  • 100 meters — 1st, 10.37 (1,006 points, season best)
  • Long jump — 2nd, 7.35m (24-1 1/2) (898 points, season best)
  • Shot put — 6th, 13.16m (43-2 1/4) (677 points, personal best)
  • High jump — No height (0 points)

Hammer Throw

Pole Vault

200 Meters — Preliminaries

1,500 Meters

10,000 Meters