Steve Phillips brings you updates throughout the 2018 #ACCOTF Championships from Miami’s Cobb Stadium in Coral Gables ...
The Florida State men and Virginia Tech women are out in front following completion of day two of the 2018 Atlantic Coast Conference Track and Field Championships, but both sides remain too close to call heading into Saturday’s finale.
The end of Friday’s competition found the Seminoles leading with 54 team points, followed by Louisville with 48 and Syracuse with 41. Two-time defending champion Virginia Tech (37.5) and Virginia (35) round out the top five.
The defending champion Virginia Tech women lead with 53.5 points, followed by Louisville (43.5), Miami (38) and Virginia (32). Duke and Florida State are tied for fifth place with 25.5 points each.
The final and deciding session of the three-day ACC Championship is set for Saturday at Cobb Stadium, beginning with the men’s javelin throw at 11 a.m. (one hour early than originally scheduled). Finals are set in six total men’s and women’s field events, and 20 running event finals are on the docket. The competition concludes with the running of the women’s 4x400 relay at 8:30 p.m., followed by the men’s 4x400 at 8:40.
A pair of ACC Championship records fell on Friday as Notre Dame’s Nate Richartz posted a personal-best jump of 18-8.25 in the men’s pole vault, and Syracuse’s Paige Stoner followed suit with a time of 9:50.42 in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Other Friday highlights included finals in five field events, as well as the men’s and women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase. Friday also saw winners crowned in the men’s and women’s multis, as well as preliminaries in a combined eight men’s and women’s running events.
Please see the link below for complete results of all of Friday’s final and preliminary events:
theacc.co/otf18results
ACC Network Extra will continue its live streaming with four hours of coverage of Saturday’s finals. Sean Kenney returns to handle play-by-play, while former U.S. Olympic standout Dan O’Brien will serve as analyst for the broadcast, which begins at 5 p.m. The pair will be joined by distance race analyst David Mitchell and Melanie Newman as sideline reporter. Rick Willenzik will produce the broadcast.
A link to Saturday’s livestream:
http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3357490/acc-track--field-championships
Make sure to follow @ACCTrackField on Twitter throughout the day during Saturday's final session for continual updates,
A capsule look at Friday's action:
Stoner Puts One In The Books
Paige Stoner has been a model of running consistency throughout the academic year, and the Syracuse senior was in top form again Friday evening. Stoner ran the women’s 3,000 steeplechase in an ACC Championship record time of 9:50.42. Clemson’s Logan Morris took the silver medal with a time of 10:07.13, and Virginia Tech’s Sarah Edwards claimed the bronze in 10:08.14.
Richartz Makes His Mark
Notre Dame’s Nate Richartz prevailed in a battle of the nation’s elite men’s pole vaulters, setting an ACC Championship record and tying the conference’s overall mark in the process. Richartz cleared 18-8.25 on his first attempt at the height to break the meet record of 18-6.5 (5.65m) held since 1992 by Florida State’s Jeff Bray. Richartz tied the ACC overall mark set in 2017 by Virginia Tech’s Torben Laidig.
Richartz opted not to attempt to break the latter mark, settling for a share of the overall ACC record with Laidig as both head into NCAA competition. Laidig and Hokie teammate Deakin Volz bolth cleared 18-4.25 (5.60) on Saturday to take the podium spots behind Richartz, and the Hokies placed five pole vaulters among the top-10 finishers.
Men’s 3000 Steeplechase
The Orange squeezed out a 1-2 finish in the men’s steeplechase, Syracuse freshman Noah Affolder took the gold with a personal best time of 8:46.22. Sophomore teammate Aidan Tooker followed at 8:48.63, and Virginia Tech sophomore Fitsum Seyoum took the bronze medal in 8:49.26, which was also a personal best.
Women’s Long Jump
Virginia Tech’s Eszter Bajnok set a school record of 20-3 (6.17) on her third attempt in the women’s long jump, and the mark held for a gold medal in Friday evening competition. Virginia freshman Khyasia Caldwell grabbed the silver medal at 20-0.25 (6.10m), and the Cavaliers’ Kelly McKee took bronze at 19-11.25 (6.08m).
Women’s Shot Put
A pair of Florida State women battled for the ACC shot put gold medal, and Gleneve Grange staked her claim on her next-to-last throw. The Seminole senior measured a season-best 55-5 (16.89m) on her fifth-round throw, edging FSU classmate Ieva Zarankaite’s personal best of 54-4 (16.58m). Miami freshman Debbie Ajagbe took the bronze medal at 53-2.75 (16.22m).
Men’s Long Jump
Florida State dealt a straight winning hand when it came to the men’s long jump on Friday, as Seminoles earned three podium spots and added two more places among the top 10.
Corion Knight led the way with a personal best of 26-5.5 (8.06m), while Kenneth Fischer snared the silver medal with his jump of 25-4.5 (7.73m). Armani Wallace took the bronze with a mark of 25-1.75 (7.66m).
The FSU trio broke out a push broom in literal celebration of the "sweep" as they accepted their medals in the post-event ceremony.
Men’s Shot Put
The Seminoles’ surge in the Friday field events continued as Austin Droogsma carried on his banner senior season with a throw of 65-8.25 (20.02m). Virginia’s Oghenakpobo placed second at 62-9.25 (19.13m). Miami senior Gian Ragonesi took the bronze at 60-8.5 (18.50m).
Fox Takes Men’s Decathlon
The airtight decathlon came down to the final event of the day, and Louisville’s Eric Fox met the challenge
Fox placed second behind teammate Joe Delgado in the 1,500 meters, earning enough points to edge Miami’s Andreas Christodoulou in the final overall scoring. Fox finished with 7,273 total points to Christodoulou’s 7,271. Delgado took the bronze medal with 6,862.
Delgado clocked a winning 1,500 meters time of 4:20.71. Fox followed at 4:48.68, and Christodoulou was third at 4:53.38.
Men’s Decathlon Javelin
Miami’s Andreas Christodoulou has grabbed the scoring lead in the men’s decathlon with one event remaining.
Christodoulou, bidding for his second gold medal in the event in three years, took over first place in the overall standings after leading the javelin throw with a toss of 190-10 (58.16m). Louisville’s Eric Fox took second in the javelin throw, and NC State’s Grant Rivers placed third.
Christodoulou now leads the overall scoring with 6,674 – 28 points ahead of Fox’s 6,646 – heading into the decisive 1,500 meters. Duke’s Jacob Sobota is in third place with 6,241 points.
Men’s Decathlon Pole Vault
Lousiville senior Eric Fox literally vaulted into lead of the men’s decathlon with two events remaining.
Fox posted a first-place finish in the pole vault at 16-4.75 (5.00m) to take over the lead in the overall scoring. Duke freshman Jacob Sobota placed second at 14-9 (4.60m), and Miami’s Andreas Christodoulou took third at 14-5.25 (4.40m).
Fox leads the overall scoring with 5,980, followed by Christodoulou at 5,964 and Sobota at 5,807. Louisville’s Joe Delgado, who entered the pole vaulting completion with the overall lead but no-heighted in the event, is now in fourth place with 5,469 points.
Atherley Claims Women’s Heptathlon
Miami’s Michelle Atherley put the finishing touches on the 2018 women’s heptathlon with a second-place finish behind Louisville’s Holly Hankenson in the women’s 800 meters.
While Hankenson placed first with a personal best time of 2:14.97, Atherley outdistanced the remainder of the field at 2:15.83 to make sure her overall leader status was secure.
Atherley finished with 5,793 points. Hankeson placed second at 5,526, and Duke’s Jaida Lemmons took the bronze medal at 5,462.
Atherley, a native of North Port, Florida, became the first double-gold medalist of this year’s ACC Championship after winning the women’s high jump on Thursday evening.
Women’s Heptathlon Javelin Throw
Duke’s Jaida Lemmons led the javelin throw, and two Louisville competitors took the next two spots in the women’s heptathlon neared its conclusion.
Lemmons registered a first-place throw of 147-2 (44.86m). Cardinal senior Linda Mutter followed at 118-9 (36.21m), and junior Holly Hankenson took third with a throw of 108 feet (32.93m).
With only the 800 meters remaining in the competition, Miami’s Michelle Atherley continued to lead with 4,912 points, 257 ahead of Lemmons, who holds second with 4,655. Hankenson holds third place with 4,633.
Women’s Heptathlon Long Jump
Miami’s Michelle Atherley remains on roll. The sophomore Hurricane entered Friday’s heptathlon competition as the overall points leader and promptly padded her status with a first-place finish in the long jump competition.
Atherley, who also captured the gold medal in the Championship high jump competition on Thursday night, posted a heptathlon long jump of 19-3.5 (5.88m). Virginia senior Holly Sullivan followed at 18-11.75 (5.78m), and Louisville junior Holly Hankenson took third place at 18-10.75 (5.76m).
Atherley now leads with 4,446 points. Hankenson follows at 4,101 and Duke junior Jaida Lemmons is in third place with 3,894. The javelin throw and 800 meters remain in the competition.
Men’s Decathlon Discus
Overall leader Joe Delgado made the most of his chance to pad his overall scoring lead, and Louisville teammate Eric Fox didn’t fare badly either as the men’s decathlon wrapped up competition in the discus throw.
Delgado placed first with a throw of 134-9 (41.08m), and Fox took second by throwing an even 129 feet (39.32m). Duke’s Christian Friis took third with a throw of 127 feet (38.73m).
Delgado’s point total now stands at 5,469 with the pole vault, javelin throw and 1,500 meters still remaining. Miami’s Andreas Christodoulou is second with 5,233, and Fox moved into third place with 5,070.
Men's Decathlon 110 Hurdles Kick Off Day Two
The men’s decathlon 110 hurdles launched day two of the 2018 Atlantic Coast Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and the results were very much to host Miami’s liking.
The Hurricanes’ Andreas Christodoulou took first place with a time of 14.84, finishing just ahead of Duke freshman Christian Friis, who clocked in at 14.90. Louisville senior Joe Delgado followed at 15.16.
Delgado continues to hold the overall scoring lead with 4,782 points. Christodoulou holds second place with 4,627 and Duke’s Jacob Sobota holds third place with 4,443.