GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – NCAA champion Michaela Meyer of Virginia and national record-holder Yared Nuguse of Notre Dame have been named the 2021 Scholar-Athletes of the Year for Atlantic Coast Conference Outdoor Track and Field and lead the sport’s All-ACC Academic Teams announced on Thursday.
 
Meyer, a graduate student in the UVA School of Nursing, became the first female competitor in the Virginia track and field program’s history to win an individual NCAA title when she took first place in the 800 meters June 12 at Eugene, Oregon’s historic Hayward Field.
 
Meyer used a strong finishing kick to take the lead coming off the final turn and pulled away for the win with a personal best time of 2:00.28 that broke her own UVA school record and ranks as the ninth best performance in the 800 meters in collegiate history. It capped a collegiate season in which Meyer also won the ACC title in the women’s 1500 meters and placed first in the 800 at the NCAA East Regional with a then-school record and facility record time of 2:00.40.
 
A native of Southbury, Connecticut, Meyer posted a 3.85 GPA each of the last two semesters as she followed up on her undergraduate studies (at the University of Delaware) of individuals with intellectual disabilities to find creative ways to capture their diet intake.
 
Notre Dame’s Nuguse claimed the men’s 1,500 gold medal at the ACC Championships hosted by NC State with a time of 3:40.86 that was not even his fastest of the event. Nuguse seized the national spotlight in the preliminaries on May 13, when he clocked a 3:34.68 time that set the all-time collegiate record, established ACC meet and Paul Derr Track facility records, reset the ACC overall record and improved on his own Notre Dame school record.

Nuguse went on to run the fastest time ever in the NCAA Championship’s 1,500 preliminary at Eugene, Oregon, and placed second two nights later in the final with a time of 3:35.60 that stands as the seventh-fastest in NCAA history. The Louisville, Kentucky, junior now owns three of the top 11 all-time NCAA men’s 1,500m marks on record.
 
A biochemistry major with a career GPA of 3.86, Nuguse is a four-time Dean’s List student and is eligible for his fourth selection to the ACC Academic Honor Roll.
 
Both Meyer and Nuguse are scheduled to compete in the first round of the Olympic Trials of their respective events this evening in Eugene.
 
The ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards were established in September of 2007 to be awarded annually to the top junior or senior student-athlete in their respective sports. Candidates for the awards must have maintained a 3.0 grade point average for their careers, as well as a 3.0 for each of the last two semesters.
 
Minimum academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one’s academic career. Athletic achievements during the most recent season are also considered in selecting the All-ACC Academic Team.
 
The ACC Honor Roll, which recognizes all conference student-athletes with a grade point average of 3.0 for the current academic year, will be released in July.
 
The 2021 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Outdoor Track and Field teams, including each student-athlete’s major of study, are as follows:
 
ACC All-ACC Academic Outdoor Track & Field Teams
(Bold denotes ACC Scholar-Athletes of the Year)
Men
Avery McKenzie, Boston College, Gr., Management
Devon Brooks, Clemson, Sr., Communication
Lafranz Campbell, Clemson, Jr., Communication
Kameron Jones, Clemson, Gr., Athletic Leadership
Giano Roberts, Clemson, Jr., Sport Communication
Connor Atkinson, Duke, Gr., MBA
Evan Lee, Duke, Gr., Bioethics & Science
Kiegan Lenihan, Duke, Gr., Mechanical Engineering
Harry Lord, Duke, Gr., Management
Ezra Mellinger, Duke, So., Environmental Studies
Trey Cunningham, Florida State, Sr., Public Relations
Kasey Knevelbaard, Florida State, Gr., Sport Management
Ahmed Muhumed, Florida State, Gr., International Affairs
Riley Ott, Florida State, Fr., Sport Management
Jordan Wesner, Florida State, Jr., Sport Management
Adriaan Wildschutt, Florida State, Gr., MBA
Brian Hauch, Georgia Tech, So., Mechanical Engineering
Alex Thomas, Georgia Tech, Fr., Civil & Environmental Engineering
Christian Buckley, Louisville, Gr., Mechanical Engineering/Bioengineering
Justin Lehmkuhler, Louisville, Fr., Chemical Engineering
Sean Roth, Louisville, Gr., MBA
Adar Sheere, Louisville, Jr., Economics
Sterling Warner-Savage, Louisville,  Health & Human Performance/Exercise Science
Kevin Arreaga, Miami, Gr., International Administration
Xavier Coakley, Miami, Gr., Sport Administration
Isaiah Holmes, Miami, Gr., Sport Administration
Patrick Anderson, North Carolina, Fr., Biology
Jesse Hunt, North Carolina, Sr., Economics
Dolan Owens, North Carolina, So., Psychology
Josh Brockman, NC State. Jr., Business Administration
Ja’Von Douglas, NC State, Sr., Sport Management
Ian Shanklin, NC State, Sr., Business Administration
Nolan Blachowski, Notre Dame, Fr. Finance
Colton Crum, Notre Dame, Sr., Business Analytics
Dylan Jacobs, Notre Dame, Jr., Business Analytics
John Keenan, Notre Dame, Jr., Neuroscience and Behavior
Logan Kusky, Notre Dame, Gr, MS - Business Analytics
Yared Nuguse, Notre Dame, Sr., Biochemistry
Austin Parsons, Notre Dame, Jr., Biology
Michael Shoaf, Notre Dame, So., Business Analytics
John Stefan, Notre Dame, Sr., Business Analytics
Samuel Voelz, Notre Dame, Sr., Economics
Felix Wolter, Pitt, Gr., Computer Science
Aidan Tooker, Syracuse, Sr., Comm & Rhetorical Studies/SOC
Rohann Askew, Virginia, Jr., American Studies
Brenton Foster, Virginia, Sr., Educational Studies
Derek Johnson, Virginia, So., Computer Science
Jacob Lemmon, Virginia, Fr., Undeclared
Wes Porter, Virginia, Fr., Undeclared
Owayne Owens, Virginia, So., Sociology
Claudio Romero, Virginia, Fr., Undeclared
Jordan Willis, Virginia, Sr., Computer Science
Alexios Prodanas, Virginia Tech, Sr., Mathematics
Harrison Rice, Virginia Tech, Jr., Business Info Tech
Jacob Rice, Virginia Tech, So., Mechanical Engineering
Tyreke Sapp, Virginia Tech, Jr., Public Relations
Diego Zarate, Virginia Tech, Sr., Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience
Zach Facioni, Wake Forest, Jr., Economics
Michael Yow, Wake Forest, Gr., Business Management
 
WOMEN
Lauren White, Boston College, Sr., International Studies
Laurie Barton, Clemson, Sr., Athletic Leadership
Kori Carter, Clemson, So., Health Science
Leah Disher, Clemson, So., Marketing
Nicolee Foster, Clemson, Sr., Parks, Recreation & Tourism Mgt.
Veronica Fraley, Clemson, Jr., Health Science
Trishauna Hemmings, Clemson, Sr., Communication
Rebekah Smith, Clemson, Sr., Athletic Leadership
Harleigh White, Clemson, Sr., Nursing
Brittany Aveni, Duke, Sr., Biology
Elena Brown-Soler, Duke, Gr., Bioethics & Science Policy
Elasia Campbell, Duke, So., Psychology
Jenna Crean, Duke, So., Biology & Global Health
Lauren Hoffman, Duke, Sr., Evolutionary Anthropology
Zoe Hughes, Duke, Gr., Global Health
Erin Marsh, Duke, Sr., Psychology
Michaela Reinhart, Duke, Sr., IDM: Chemistry & Public Policy
Cash Rodriguez, Duke, Sr., Biology
Cha’Mia Rothwell, Duke, Gr., Masters of Mgt. Studies
Brianna Smith, Duke, Fr., Undeclared
Iman Sule, Duke, Gr., Masters of Mgt. Studies
Leigha Torino, Duke, Sr. Neuroscience
Julia Valenti, Duke, Gr., Masters of Mgt. Studies
Shian Hyde, Florida State, Gr., Criminology
Jayla Kirkland, Florida State, Sr., Sport Management
Caisa-Marie Lindfords, Florida State, Fr., Psychology
Shanice Love, Florida State, Gr., Masters of Accountancy
Kelechi Nwanaga, Florida State, Sr. Economics
Ka’Tia Seymour, Florida State, Sr., Sport Management
Maudie Skyring, Florida State, Gr., Exercise Physiologoy
Alonie Sutton, Florida State, Jr., Interdisciplinary Social Science
Sara Zabarino, Florida State, Environment & Society
Carla du Plessis, Georgia Tech, Fr., Computer Science
Nicole Fegans, Georgia Tech, Sr., Business Administration
Bria Matthews, Georgia Tech, Gr., Electrical & Computer Engineering
Makenli Forrest, Sr.,  Louisville, Health & Human Performance – Exercise Science
Halee Hudson, Louisville, Gr., Exercise Science
Gabriela Leon, Louisville, Sr.,  Louisville, Health & Human Performance – Exercise Science
Renate Van Tonder, Louisville, Sr., Finance
Aliyah Welter, Louisville, Jr., Health & Human Performance – Exercise Science/Sport Admin.
Debbie Ajagbe, Miami, Sr., Mechanical Engineering
Michelle Atherley, Miami, Gr., International Administration/Public Administration
Moriah Oliviera, Miami, Fr., Broadcast Journalism
Zakiya Rashid, Miami, Gr., Exercise Physiology – Strength & Conditioning
Alfreda Steele, Miami, Gr., Masters of Liberal Studies
Anna Keefer, North Carolina, Sr., Communication Studies
Emerson Porter, North Carolina, Sr., Business Administration
Jill Shippee, North Carolina, Sr., Exercise & Sport Science /Sociology
Madison Wiltrout, North Carolina, Sr., Exercise & Sport Science
Kelsey Chmiel, NC State, Sr., Animal Science
Dominique Clairmonte, NC State, Sr., History
Elly Henes, NC State, Sr., NDS
Gionna Quarzo, NC State, So., Elementary Education
Akira Rhodes, NC State, Jr., Accounting
Savannah Shaw, NC State, Sr., Business Administration
Hannah Steelman, NC State, Sr., Psychology
Katelyn Tuohy, NC State, Jr., Engineering
Erin Archibeck, Notre Dame, Gr., Mechanical Engineering
Katie Rose Blachowicz, Notre Dame, Neuroscience & Behavior
Alaina Brady, Notre Dame, Fr., Neuroscience & Behavior
Maddy Denner, Notre Dame, Jr., Applied & Computational Math & Statistics
Anna Sophia Keller, Notre Dame, Sr., Economics/Design
Maura Kimmel, Note Dame, Gr., MS Management
Olivia Markezich, Notre Dame, So., Marketing
Jadin O’Brien, Notre Dame, Fr., Arts & Letters
Lauren Sapone, Notre Dame, Gr., MS Business Analytics
Madison Schmidt, Notre Dame, Fr., Chemical Engineering
Rachel Tanczos, Notre Dame, Sr., Psychology/Theology
Katie Wasserman, Notre Dame, Gr., MS Global Health
Eddita Pessima, Pitt, Jr., Psychology
Annie Heffernan, Syracuse, Gr., Global Health
Amanda Vestri, Syracuse, Sr., Health & Exercise Science
Kayla Bonnick, Virginia, Fr., Undeclared
Kiera Bothwell, Virginia, Sr., Commerce
Maria Deaviz, Virginia, Fr., Undeclared
Rebecca Hawkins, Virginia, Jr., Chemistry
Halle Hazzard, Virginia, Sr., English
Anna Jefferson, Virginia , Gr., Educational Psychology
Andrenette Knight, Virginia, Gr., Educational Psychology
Maya Maloney, Virginia, Fr., Undeclared
Michaela Meyer, Virginia, Gr. Nursing
Jada Seaman, Virginia, Fr., Undeclared
Alix Still, Virginia, Jr., American Studies
Thelma Kristjansdottir, Virginia, Jr., Sociology
Estzter Bajnok, Virginia Tech, Gr., Business Admin. & Analytics
Lauren Berman, Virginia Tech, Gr., Mechanical Engineering
Lindsey Butler, Virginia Tech, So., Industrial Systems & Engineering
Sarah Edwards, Virginia Tech, Gr., Architecture
Emma Thor, Virginia Tech, Sr., Industrial Systems & Engineering
Hannah Brookover, Wake Forest, Gr., Biomedical Science