GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Syracuse’s Justyn Knight, Virginia Tech’s Rachel Pocratsky, Florida State’s Corion Knight and Virginia’s Kelly McKee have been recognized as the Atlantic Coast Conference Indoor Track and Field Performers of the Week for February 13.
It marks the third consecutive week that Syracuse’s Knight has been named the ACC Indoor Men’s Track Performer of the Week, and Virginia Tech’s Pocratsky was recognized for the second time this season.
The ACC Indoor Track and Field Performers of the Week for week six of the 2017-18 season at a glance:
ACC Men’s Track Performer of the Week
Justyn Knight, Syracuse
Knight turned in one of the nation’s leading times in his third event of the 2017-18 season, racing to a time of 13:39.59 in the men’s 5000-meter run in the Iowa State Classic that ranks second nationally. The Bowerman Award Watch List member bested a 19-man invite field, holding off Utah State’s Dillon Maggard and Alabama’s Vincent Kiprop at the line to win the event. Knight now owns the nation’s top time in the 3k, the second-best mark in the 5k and fourth-best time in the mile this indoor season.
ACC Women’s Track Performer of the Week
Rachel Pocratsky, Virginia Tech
Competing in a 56-runner field at the Music City Challenge in Nashville, Pocratsky broke the Virginia Tech school record in the mile, bettering Shannon Morton’s time that was set in 2016. The Gaithersburg, Maryland, native crossed the finish line in 4:34.01 to claim the gold medal and reset the Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility record. Her time ranks sixth nationally and first in the ACC.
ACC Men’s Field Performer of the Week
Corion Knight, Florida State
Knight authored the finest long jump performance of his collegiate career Friday at the Tyson Invitational, landing the No. 3 jump in the nation – No. 1 in the ACC - on his sixth attempt to win the open division of the competition. The senior transfer from Crawfordville, Florida’s 8.02-meter (26-3.75) closing leap was not only his third personal-best of the meet, but also smashed his outdoor personal-best (7.66m/25-1.5) by more than a foot. The former Florida Memorial University star not only finished at the front of the 23-man field in the open division, but also had the top mark among 12 jumpers in the Invitational section, which included nine of the top 25 ranked jumpers in the nation. Knight came into the meet with an indoor career-best of 7.39 and produced personal-bests of 7.51m and 7.64m before his monster sixth attempt. Only one Seminole – Ngoni Makusha (8.21m) – has jumped further in program history.
ACC Women’s Field Performer of the Week
Kelly McKee, Virginia
Competing in a Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational women’s triple jump field of 26 competitors from a talent pool that included nine of the nation’s top 20 teams, McKee delivered a mark of 12.99m (42-7.5) that is the third-best in school history and currently ranks 18th nationally. The Lenexa, Kansas, junior also owns the top mark in the ACC so far this season.