RALEIGH, N.C. (theACC.com) – Following Yared Nuguse’s record-setting run in the 1500 meters at last week’s Oregon Twilight, Atlantic Coast Conference track fans wondered if there was anything he could possibly do in the way of an encore.
It took the Notre Dame senior all of six days to answer.
Nuguse turned Thursday night’s preliminary qualifier at the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships into a personal showcase, dusting the field with time of 3:34.68 that ranks as the fastest 1500 in NCAA history.
In addition to breaking the American collegiate record of 3:35.01 set by New Mexico’s Josh Kerr in 2018, Nuguse bettered his Oregon showing (3:35.96) by more than a second.
In what almost seemed like footnotes, Nuguse established ACC meet and Paul Derr Track facility records, reset the ACC overall record and improved on his own Notre Dame school record.
Nuguse runs in the ACC men’s 1500 final Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
A meet record long jump by Virginia redshirt freshman Jada Seaman also highlighted Thursday’s opening competition (see details below), as the ACC Outdoor Championships returned to NC State for the first time since 2013.
In addition to the finals in seven men’s and women’s field events, Thursday’s slate included the start of the men’s decathlon and women’s heptathlon, in addition to preliminaries in six running events. The prelims included a facility record in the women’s 1,500 meters by Notre Dame senior Katie Wasserman, who checked in with a personal best time of 4:11.72.
Please see
Live results link for complete results of all of Thursday’s final and preliminary events.
Day two of the three-day ACC Championship is set for Friday, beginning with the women’s javelin at 11 a.m. Other schedule highlights include finals in four more field events, as well as the men’s and women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase. Also slated for Friday are the concluding events of men’s decathlon and women’s heptathlon, and preliminaries in a combined eight men’s and women’s running events.
ACC Network Extra will continue its coverage on Friday and Saturday. Shawn Kenney returns to handle play-by-play for the evening session and will be joined by veteran analyst Larry Rawson. Former Duke head coach Norm Ogilive will also be on hand as a color analyst.
Friday’s live coverage will air from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m., followed by Saturday’s finals from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Links to each day’s livestream:
Other links of interest:
Schedule of Events:
http://theacc.co/2021ACCotf
ACC Weekly Release:
http://theacc.co/ACCotf512
Make sure to follow @ACCTrackField on Twitter throughout both days for news and updates.
ACC MEN’S STANDINGS
(5 of 21 events completed)
1. Notre Dame 42.5
2. Virginia Tech 23.5
3. NC State 22
4. North Carolina 21
5. Virginia 18
6. Florida State 16
7. Pitt 12
7. Syracuse 12
9. Miami 9
10. Duke 8
11. Louisville 4.5
12. Georgia Tech 3.5
13. Wake Forest 3
14. Clemson 1
ACC WOMEN’S STANDINGS
(4 of 21 events completed)
1. Louisville 36.5
2. North Carolina 24.5
3. Virginia Tech 22
4. Georgia Tech 21
5. Virginia 14
6. NC State 10
7. Duke 9
8. Syracuse 8
9. Notre Dame 6
10. Florida State 3
11. Miami 2
A capsule look at Thursday’s opening-day action.
MEN’S 10,000 METERS
Running confidently on his home track in the final event of the evening, NC State’s Ian Shanklin kicked past Syracuse’s J.P. Trojan on the final lap in posting a winning 10K time of 29:11.28. Trojan placed second at 29:11.77, and Patrick Anderson took the bronze medal at 29:11.98.
WOMEN’S 10,000 METERS
Taking charge on the final two laps, Georgia Tech junior Nicole Fegans pulled away to capture the women’s 10K with a time of 32:45.30 that set a meet record and ranks as the fifth-fastest in the nation this season. Fegans outran Louisville junior Purity Sanga, who finished in 32:49.07. ACC cross country champion Dominique Clairmonte of NC State took the bronze with a time of 32:50.8.’
MEN’S JAVELIN
This year’s meet opened with a repeat as Virginia sophomore Ethan Dabbs earned his second consecutive gold medal with his season-best javelin throw of 71.45 meters (234-5). Dabbs’ winning throw wasn’t quite as long as his meet-record toss of 76.04 meters two years ago (no 2020 ACC Outdoor Championship was held due to the pandemic), but it proved enough to edge a personal-best of 70.23 meters (230-5) by silver medalist Ethan Parsons of Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish also took third place with Kiegan Lenihan throwing 65.96 meters (216-5).
MEN’S HAMMER
Virginia Tech senior Alexios Prodanas delivered a well-timed personal best throw of 70.46 meters (231-2) to claim the men’s hammer throw. Prodanas bested two-time defending champion Kevin Arreaga of Miami (66.98m/219-9) and North Carolina James Joycey (66.29/217-6).
MEN’S POLE VAULT
For the third time in the last four ACC Outdoor Championships, Notre Dame owns the gold medal in the men’s pole vault. Sophomore Colton Crum took honors Thursday with by clearing 5.16 meters (16-11) Crum vaulted past Virginia Tech’s sibling duo Jacob Rice (5.06m/16-7.25) and Harrison Rice (4.96m/16-3.25), who placed second and third.
MEN’S LONG JUMP
After winning the ACC Indoor long jump championship, Florida State’s Isaac Grimes doubled up by taking gold in the outdoor event with a gold medal mark of 7.75 meters (25-5.25). Reigning ACC Performer of the Week Ja’Von Douglas of NC State took second at 7.57m/24-10, and Pitt’s Kollin Smith grabbed the bronze at 7.48m/24-6.5.
WOMEN’S LONG JUMP
After making a name for herself at the ACC Indoor Championships each of the past two years, Virginia’s Jada Seaman improved on her winning form in her Outdoor debut. Seaman’s leap of 6.56 meters (21-6.25) on her final attempt set an ACC Championship record and ranks as her personal best. Seaman moved past Georgia Tech’s Bria Matthews (6.42m/21-0.75) to claim the gold medal. North Carolina’s Anna Kiefer took the bronze at 6.32m/20-09.
WOMEN’S POLE VAULT
In an event in which five competitors registered marks of 14.13m (13-6.5), Louisville junior Gabriela Leon won on progressions to take home to gold medal. Duke’s Julia Valenti (personal best) earned the silver medal, and Virginia Tech’s Rachel Baxter took home the bronze.
WOMEN’S HAMMER
Less than two weeks after breaking her own league record in the women’s hammer throw, North Carolina’s Jillian Shippee successfully defended her ACC Outdoor Championship title with a throw of 67.67 meters (222-0) on her fourth attempt. A pair of personal bests followed, as Virginia Tech freshman Sara Killinen took the silver (64.92m/213-0) and Notre Dame junior Rachel Tanczos the bronze (64.33m/211-0).
MEN’S DECATHLON
Duke senior Evan Lee combined a first-place finish with three second-place showings to grab the lead in the decathlon after five events. Lee has 3,872 through four events. Florida State freshman William Ott, competing in his first-ever heptathlon won three Thursday events to follow with 3,718 points, and Virginia Tech senior James Holt will enter Friday’s closing competition in third place at 3,360.
A glance at Thursday’s decathlon action by event:
- Florida State’s Ott made an early statement with a first-place time of 11.04 in the 100 meters, .07 ahead of Duke’s Lee.
- Ott kept it going in the long-jump competition, placing first at 6.89 meters, while Virginia Tech’s Holt followed at 6.72m.
- Duke’s Lee took his first event of the competition with a shot put throw of 13.75 meters, and teammate Harry Lloyd followed at 12.34 meters.
- Lee and Louisville freshman Justin Lehmkuhler each had high jumps of 1.92 meters to lead that event.
- Ott capped his day with a first-place 400 finish of 49.03, edging Duke’s Lee by .03 of a second.
- The decathlon wraps up on Friday with the 110 hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500 meters.
WOMEN’S HEPTATHLON
Duke’s Erin Marsh ended Thursday’s competition with a narrow lead on two-time defending ACC champion and league record-holder Michelle Atherley. Marsh used first-place finishes in the high jump and 200 meters to accumulate 3,668 points. Atherley, with one first-place finish, one second-place and two thirds, is 35 points behind at 3,633.
A glance at Thursday’ heptathlon action by event:
- Leading a field of personal bests in the 100-meter hurdles, Atherley checked in first with a time of 13.06, followed by Duke’s Marsh at 13.17.
- Marsh answered in the high jump, clearing the bar with a leap of 1.78 meters that edged teammate Brianna Smith (personal best) and Atherley, who both cleared 1.75 meters.
- Duke’s Zoe Hughes’ shot put throw of 12.64 meters on her second attempt held up for a first-place finish, with Atherley grabbing second with her throw of 12.52 meters on her third and final attempt.
- Three heptathlon events – the long jump, javelin and 800 meters – remain on the docket for Friday.