Sophomore Bailey Wagner’s victory in the discus throw and senior Steve Marcelle’s triumph in the shot put were the highlights of the weekend for the track and field teams, as Tech’s men’s and women’s squads each took seventh at the ACC Outdoor Championships at Clemson, S.C. from April 16-18.
Wagner’s victory came on the first day of competition, as her throw of 169 feet, 11 inches on her third attempt easily cleared the competition and gave the women’s team its first win. Marcelle nearly did the same for the men’s side in the men’s discus throw, but he came up just short as Virginia Tech’s Igor Misljenovic took the event. Still, Marcelle earned All-ACC honors for his throw of 180 feet, eight inches.
Sophomore Mary Kate DuBard finished eighth in the 10,000-meter distance run, and junior Kayla McKeirnan placed in the top ten of three of the four heptathlon events in which she participated, taking eighth in the 200-meter dash.
Several Jackets had strong performances on day two of competition. Senior Alphonso Jordan and sophomore Jhanelle McLeod placed in the top five of the men’s and women’s long jump, respectively. Junior Antonio McKay Jr. took third in the men’s 400-meter dash, while freshman Kellie Christian and senior Tiffany Grant each placed in the top 10 on the women’s side of the event.
The star of the day for Tech was Marcelle, who set a new personal best with a throw of 62 feet, 5.25 inches in the shot put to win the event. Wagner took sixth in the women’s shot put.
Tech received strong performances from Jordan and fellow senior Alana Clooten on the third and final day of competition. Jordan set a competition and school record when he reached 54 feet, 6.5 inches in the triple jump, securing his second straight victory in the event. He also took fifth in the 110-meter hurdles.
Clooten, meanwhile, became the first Tech student-athlete to win the hammer throw with her mark of 188 feet, six inches.
Sophomore Terri Ann Grant added a highlight when she earned All-ACC honors in the high jump.