Hokies Open ACC Championships with Podium Finishes, Program High-10 Marks

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Virginia Tech monitor and subject workforce opened the 2026 Atlantic Coast Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Thursday with private bests, all-time top-10 marks and podium finishes at Cardinal Track Stadium. The Hokie males sit in third place after Day 1 with 20 factors, whereas the ladies are sixth with 14 factors.

The males’s pole vault squad led the way in which, as three Hokies scored workforce factors. Maddox Hamm positioned second and Conner McClure completed third after every cleared 5.43 meters (17 ft, 9 3/4 inches). Jack Helmich added a seventh-place end with an outside private better of 5.08m (16 ft, 8 inches), climbing from his No. 16 seed place to assist the Hokies whole 16 factors within the occasion.

Nicholas Kipchirchir earned his first out of doors All-ACC honors within the 10,000 meters, putting fourth in 29:41.07 – incomes 5 factors for Tech.

Nabil Tezkratt moved into Virginia Tech’s all-time high 10 within the 200-meter preliminaries with a personal-best 20.81, rating No. 10 in program historical past. He advances to Saturday’s ultimate at 6:20 p.m. ET and can be scheduled to compete within the 400-meter preliminaries Friday at 5:40 p.m.

Nick Plant additionally certified for Saturday’s ultimate within the 1,500 meters, clocking 3:40.96 to safe his spot within the championship race at 4:20 p.m.

In the decathlon, Nate Paris opened with a standout efficiency within the 100 meters, successful the occasion in a personal-best 10.37 to earn 1,006 factors — the one athlete within the ACC to surpass 1,000 factors within the occasion this season. Paris additionally positioned second within the lengthy soar with a season-best 7.35m (24 ft, 1 1/2 inches) for 898 factors and recorded a personal-best 13.16m (43 ft, 2 1/4 inches) within the shot put for 677 factors.

Competing in his first ACC Championship decathlon, Stuart Pirtle ended Day 1 in second place with 4,013 factors. His robust efficiency was highlighted by a season-best 10.83 within the 100 meters, the place he earned 899 factors. Pirtle additionally recorded a mark of 6.85m (22 ft, 5 3/4 inches) within the lengthy soar for 859 factors. In the shot put, he posted a personal-best throw of 13.46m (44 ft, 2 inches) to complete third and rating 695 factors. He added a runner-up end within the excessive soar after clearing 1.98m (6 ft, 6 inches) for 785 factors and closed the day with a third-place end within the 400 meters in 49.11, incomes 856 factors.

On the ladies’s facet, Chiara Sistermann earned six factors with a third-place end within the pole vault, clearing 4.33m (14 ft, 2 1/2 inches) to gather her sixth profession All-ACC honor.

Mariana Pestana closed the day with a silver-medal efficiency within the hammer throw, recording a personal-best 66.98m (219 ft, 9 inches) to maneuver to No. 2 all-time in Virginia Tech historical past and earn First Team All-ACC honors.

Day 1 Team Standings
Men — third place (20 factors)
Women — sixth place (14 factors)

Up Next
Day 2 of competitors at Cardinal Track Stadium will start Friday at 11 a.m. ET with the decathlon. Field occasions are scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m., adopted by monitor occasions at 5 p.m. ET.

 

Day 1 Results

WOMEN

Pole Vault

Hammer Throw

• Mariana Pestana — 2nd, 66.98m (219-9), private greatest, No. 2 all-time at Virginia Tech

1,500 Meters

MEN

Decathlon — Day 1

Stuart Pirtle — 2nd, 4,013 factors

• 100 meters — sixth, 10.83 (899 factors, season greatest)
• Long soar — seventh, 6.85m (22-5 3/4) (859 factors)
• Shot put — third, 13.46m (44-2) (695 factors, private greatest)
• High soar — 2nd, 1.98m (6-6) (785 factors)
• 400 meters — third, 49.11 (856 factors)

Nate Paris — DNF

• 100 meters — 1st, 10.37 (1,006 factors, season greatest)
• Long soar — 2nd, 7.35m (24-1 1/2) (898 factors, season greatest)
• Shot put — sixth, 13.16m (43-2 1/4) (677 factors, private greatest)
• High soar — No top (0 factors)

Hammer Throw

Pole Vault

200 Meters — Preliminaries

1,500 Meters

10,000 Meters