CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Virginia Tech freshman Vlad Puchko highlighted the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Outdoor Track and Field Performers of the Week for the sixth week of the season. Puchko was named both the ACC Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week and the ACC Men’s Outdoor Freshman of the Week. Virginia’s Gary Martin earned ACC Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week to round out the trio of selections.
On the women’s side, Dajaz DeFrand of Florida State was named ACC Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week. Clemson’s Marie Forbes earned the ACC Outdoor Women’s Field Athlete of the Week honor, while Louisville’s Iliana Triantafyllou was named the ACC Outdoor Women’s Freshman of the Week.
ACC Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
Gary Martin, So., Virginia, Warminster, Pa.
Martin helped lead the Cavaliers to two strong relay performances at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia. The Cavaliers finished third in the distance medley relay, turning in a time of 9:36.61, with Martin running the anchoring leg. In the 4x1600-meter relay, Martin and the rest of the Virginia team finished second with a time of 15:52.30 for the second-fastest time in collegiate history. Martin’s one-mile leg came in at 4:00.46 and helped the Cavaliers break the school record in the event by 22 seconds.
ACC Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
Dajaz DeFrand, So., Florida State, Lincoln, Neb.
DeFrand helped the Seminoles 4x100-meter relay team post the 10th-fastest time in Florida State history at the LSU Invitational. The Lincoln, Nebraska, native also competed in the 100-meter dash, posting a time of 10.88 seconds, ranking 15th in NCAA history in all conditions. Her mark eclipsed the previous Florida State record but will be considered unofficial due to a wind aid of 2.8. The sophomore concluded her weekend with the fourth-fastest 200-meter time in Florida State history, clocking a 22.58 time and a third-place finish.
ACC Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week and Men’s Outdoor Freshman of the Week
Vlad Puchko, Fr., Virginia Tech, Minsk, Belarus
On Friday, Puchko recorded the best series of his career, toppling the previous Virginia Tech record in the discuss throw at the Drake Relays. The freshman from Minsk, Belarus, posted a mark of 61.90 meters (203’ 1”). He logged four throws over 60 meters and three over 61 meters, claiming first as the only discuss competitor to clear 60 meters. With one week to go in the regular season, Puchko leads the ACC in the discuss throw and ranks sixth in the NCAA.
Puchko becomes the second-straight Hokie to claim both ACC Men’s Outdoor Field and Freshman Athlete of the Week honors, joining Chidozie Kalu. Puchko also previously won ACC Men’s Outdoor Freshman of the Week on April 9.
ACC Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
Marie Forbes, Jr., Clemson, Hayes, Jamaica
Forbes made history as she became the first woman since at least 2000 to win the “College Women’s Hammer Throw Championship” and the “College Women’s Discuss Throw Championship” during the same year. Forbes finished first in the hammer throw on Thursday with a mark of 63.49 meters to earn her first gold watch at the Penn Relays. Two days later, she returned to the podium with a first-place finish in the discuss throw with a mark of 54.15 meters.
ACC Women’s Outdoor Freshman of the Week
Iliana Triantafyllou, Fr., Louisville, Serres, Greece
Triantafyllou tied the Louisville freshman record in the women's pole vault at the Clark Wood Invitational, posting a final clearance of 4.18 meters (13’ 8.5”). The mark moves the rookie up to sixth in the ACC in the event and into a tie for 20th in the East Region.
ACC Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
Mar. 19 – Devin Nugent, Pitt
Mar. 26 – Judson Lincoln IV, Virginia Tech
Apr. 2 – Gary Martin, Virginia
Apr. 9 – Florida State 4x100-Meter Relay Team
Apr. 16 – Judson Lincoln IV, Virginia Tech
Apr. 23 – Nate Mountain, Virginia
Apr. 30 – Gary Martin, Virginia
ACC Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
Mar. 19 – Makenzy Pierre-Webster, Miami
Mar. 26 – Tyra Wilson, Florida State
Apr. 2 – Grace Hartman, NC State
Apr. 9 – Tyra Wilson, Florida State
Apr. 16 – Alexandra Webster, Florida State
Apr. 23 – Lindsey Butler, Virginia Tech; Makayla Paige, North Carolina
Apr. 30 – Dejaz DeFrand, Florida State
ACC Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
Mar. 19 – Jamar Davis, NC State
Mar. 26 – Devoux Deysel, Miami
Apr. 2 – Conner McClure, Virginia Tech
Apr. 9 – Russell Robinson, Miami
Apr. 16 – Aimar Palma Simo, Duke
Apr. 23 – Chidozie Kalu, Virginia Tech
Apr. 30 – Vlad Puchko, Virginia Tech
ACC Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
Mar. 19 - Ilse Steigenga, Pitt
Mar. 26 – Deisiane Teixeira, Miami
Apr. 2 - Ilse Steigenga, Pitt
Apr. 9 – Norrah Lemongo, Pitt
Apr. 16 – Jayden Ulrich, Louisville
Apr. 23 – Jadin O’Brien, Notre Dame
Apr. 30 – Marie Forbes, Clemson
ACC Men’s Outdoor Rookie of the Week
Mar. 19 – Ace Malone, Miami
Mar. 26 – Andre Korbmacher, Florida State
Apr. 2 – Will Anthony, Virginia
Apr. 9 – Vlad Puchko, Virginia Tech
Apr. 16 – Nate Rayan, Clemson
Apr. 23 – Chidozie Kalu, Virginia Tech
Apr. 30 – Vlad Puchko, Virginia Tech
ACC Women’s Outdoor Rookie of the Week
Mar. 19 – Jade Ofotan, Georgia Tech
Mar. 26 – Gladys Chepngetich, Clemson
Apr. 2 – Jenny Schilling, Virginia
Apr. 9 – Sophie Haag, Miami
Apr. 16 – Spencer Young, North Carolina
Apr. 23 – Somiyah Braggs, Pitt
Apr. 30 – Iliana Triantafyllou, Louisville