Hokies receive titles from Butler, Gorlova, Killinen, Malikova and Sistermann to accumulate 92 points and secure three-peat; Tar Heels rely on distance double by Wolfe to highlight 93-point performance and fourth men’s crown in program history, with Florida State’s Davis sweeping long jump and triple jump, along with Clemson’s Rose earning 60 and 200 wins

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Photos courtesy of North Carolina and Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech captured its third consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference women’s indoor team title, with the North Carolina men’s team ending a championship drought of nearly three decades Saturday at the TRACK at New Balance in Boston.

The conference’s top competitors got a preview of the venue that is scheduled to play host March 8-9 to the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships during the three-day event that saw the Hokies achieve the women’s three-peat with 92 points, ahead of Clemson at 80.5 points and Notre Dame with 70 points.

North Carolina, which secured its first men’s crown since 1996 and only the fourth title in program history, accumulated 93 points, with Florida State earning 84 points to edge Virginia Tech (82 points) for second place.

Parker Wolfe led the way for the Tar Heels, winning the mile in 3:54.17 and the 3,000 in 7:51.11.

North Carolina, which had two of the top three athletes in the mile, four of the top six competitors in the 3,000 and two of the top four finishers in the 5,000, also received valuable contributions from Ethan Strand, who was third in the mile in 3:58.34 and fourth in the 3,000 in 7:55.71.

Notre Dame’s Carter Solomon triumphed in the 5,000 and teammate Ethan Coleman took third in 13:51.97, but Alex Phillip was second in 13:51.50 and Jake Gebhardt finished fourth in 13:51.99 for North Carolina.

The Tar Heels also placed second in the distance medley relay, with Virginia’s James Donahue, Jaden Lyons, Shane Cohen and Wes Porter clocking 9:33.46 to hold off the Tar Heels at 9:34.74. Notre Dame took third in 9:35.47.

Florida State’s Jeremiah Davis swept the men’s long jump and triple jump championships with performances of 26-2.25 (7.98m) and 54-8 (16.66m), respectively, the latter achieving a meet record.

Clemson’s Cameron Rose was victorious in the 60-meter dash in 6.58 as well as the 200 in 20.85.

The Tigers also received a win from Tarees Rhoden in the 800 in 1:47.08.

Virginia Tech had Judson Lincoln IV prevail in the 400 in 45.70, in addition to contributing to the Hokies producing a meet-record 3:06.0 in the 4x400 relay.

Syracuse’s Jaheem Hayles clocked 7.65 to triumph in the 60-meter hurdles.

Wake Forest’s Thomas Kitchell was victorious in the shot put with a 63-4.75 (19.32m) effort.

Duke’s Christian Johnson edged Clemson’s Daniel Cope in the weight throw by a 71-3.50 (21.73m) to 71-2.75 (21.71m) margin.

Miami (Florida) collected a pair of wins from Edgar Campre in the men’s heptathlon with 5,903 points, in addition to Kennedy Sauder emerging victorious in the high jump against Louisville teammates Brion Stephens and Trey Allen after all three competitors cleared 7-3 (2.21m).

Allen took third overall by clearing the height on his second try. Although the remaining athletes both cleared 7-3 on their first opportunities, Sauder prevailed based on fewer attempts at earlier heights.

Virginia Tech’s Conner McClure cleared 18-1.75 (5.53m), as the Hokies swept both men’s and women’s pole vault titles, with the other championship secured by freshman Chiara Sistermann at 14-2.50 (4.33m).

Barbora Malikova triumphed in the 400 in 52.56, with Lindsey Butler (2:03.86) and Star Price (2:03.89) taking the top two spots in the 800 for Virginia Tech, which also received a win in the weight throw by Sara Killinen at 72-11.25 (22.23m).

Virginia Tech’s Victoria Gorlova and Clemson’s Shantae Foreman split the long jump and triple jump crowns.

Gorlova edged Foreman by a 20-11.75 (6.39m) to 20-10.75 (6.37m) margin in the long jump. Foreman secured the title in the triple jump with a 44-10.75 (13.68m) performance and Gorlova was runner-up at 44-2.50 (13.47m).

Olivia Markezich highlighted a strong showcase by Notre Dame in the women’s distance events.

Markezich led three competitors to sub-9 efforts in the 3,000, clocking 8:52.03, followed by Virginia’s Margot Appleton at 8:57.53 and North Carolina State’s Samantha Bush running 8:59.14 to take third.

Markezich also anchored Notre Dame’s distance medley relay to a meet-record 10:49.74, joining Sophie Novak, Bridget Lalonde and Claire Sievern to surpass the 10:49.87 effort established last year by Duke. Notre Dame overcame a 3.5-second deficit on the anchor leg, with Markezich producing a 4:28.51 split to rally for the victory against Virginia at 10:50.58.

Erin Strzelecki added another championship for Notre Dame by winning the 5,000 in 15:58.04, with North Carolina State’s Amaris Tyynismaa clocking 15:59.71.

Jadin O’Brien triumphed in the pentathlon for Notre Dame with 4,329 points, leading five competitors surpassing the 4,000-point barrier, including teammate Alaina Brady at 4,150 and Duke’s Brianna Smith accumulating 4,132.

Duke’s Amina Maatoug won the mile in 4:38.16.

Florida State teammates Shenese Walker (7.20) and Dajaz Defrand (7.23) took the top two spots in the women’s 60-meter dash final. Defrand prevailed in the 200 in 23.16.

Clemson produced the top two finishers in the women’s 60-meter hurdles championship race, with Oneka Wilson (8.04) holding off teammate Antoinette Van Der Merwe (8.10).

Miami emerged victorious in the 4x400 relay in 3:32.83.

Georgia Tech’s Shanty Papakosta edged Miami’s Celia Rifaterra in the high jump on fewer attempts after both competitors cleared 6 feet (1.83m).

Louisville’s Jayden Ulrich earned the women’s shot put victory at 57-3 (17.45m).