Hokie ClubLEXINGTON, Ky. — Mariana Pestana and Chiara Sistermann punched their tickets to the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., on day two of the NCAA East First Round at the Kentucky Track and Field Complex, while Lila Waters added her name to the Virginia Tech record book Thursday.
Pestana continued her strong postseason after earning silver in the hammer throw at the ACC Championships with a personal-best mark of 66.98 meters (219 feet, 9 inches), moving to No. 2 all-time in program history and earning First Team All-ACC honors.
The senior secured her spot at the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a third-place regional finish after throwing 65.96 meters (216 feet, 5 inches). It marks her second career appearance on the national stage.
During the 2025 outdoor season, Pestana collected Second Team All-America honors at the NCAA Outdoor Championships with an American collegiate personal-best throw of 66.41 meters (217 feet, 10 inches), which ranks No. 4 all-time in Virginia Tech history. She also earned bronze at the ACC Championships with a throw of 66.14 meters (217 feet, 0 inches) to secure First Team All-ACC honors and surpassed 62.00 meters in all seven appearances during the outdoor season.
Sistermann earned her third consecutive trip to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the pole vault. The junior placed third at the ACC Championships after clearing 4.33 meters (14 feet, 2 1/2 inches), earning six team points and collecting her sixth career All-ACC honor.
Earlier this season, Sistermann made her first appearance at the NCAA Indoor Championships and earned her third career All-America honor with a clearance of 4.26 meters (13 feet, 11 3/4 inches).
Waters also turned in a strong performance for the Hokies, running a personal-best 4:13.62 in the 1,500 meters to move to No. 7 all-time in Virginia Tech history. Her time advanced her to Saturday’s quarterfinals.
Up Next
The Virginia Tech men return to competition Friday for day three of the NCAA East Regionals. Yekini Bowen opens the day in the discus before live coverage begins on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET.
DAY 2 Results
Hammer Throw - First Round
Mariana Pestana – 3rd (65.96m (216’ 5”))
Long Jump - First Round
Lilly Ver Beek – 45th (5.69m (18’ 8”))
Pole Vault - First Round
Chiara Sistermann – 2nd (4.27m (14’ 0”)) (Q)
Erin Kelleher – 31st (4.07m (13’ 4.25”))
Shot Put - First Round
1500m - First Round
Lila Waters – 16th (4:13.62) (q) (PB) (Seventh all time for VT)
Sophia Holgado – 46th (4:25.87)