Jonsson Wins Hammer on First Day of ACC Championships

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May 13, 2016

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-UVA freshman Hilmar Jonsson captured the hammer throw title as the No. 5 Virginia men’s track and field team opened action at the ACC Outdoor Championships Friday (May 13) at Mike Long Track in Tallahassee, Fla.

After one day of action, the Cavaliers sit in third place with 10 points. Virginia Tech is in first with 57 points, followed by NC State with 13. Syracuse (9) is fourth, while Notre Dame (8) rounds out the top five.

“We knew Virginia Tech would have a big day with the pole vault and 10,000 meters,” UVA director of track and field/cross country Bryan Fetzer said. “That was not a surprise. We have to stay the course and remain focused on what we can do. If we do our jobs this weekend, great things will happen.”

Jonsson (Reyjkavik, Iceland) started off the day for the Cavaliers, winning the hammer throw with a Virginia and Mike Long Track facility record of 71.52m (234′ 8″) on his final attempt. Jonsson was in second to Virginia Tech’s Tomas Kruzliak going into the final throw. With the mark, Jonsson has moved up to third in the NCAA this year.

“One word – clutch,” Fetzer said. “For a freshman to beat a former NCAA champion on the final throw, it shows so much character and composure.”

In the prelims of the 1,500 meters, juniors Henry Wynne (Westport, Conn.) and Mike Marsella (Hope Valley, R.I.) qualified first and second in 3:44.02 and 3:44.10, respectively. The final will be run Sunday at 5:30 p.m.

After the first day of the decathlon, redshirt sophomore Cam Collins (Calhoun, Ga.) is in third with 3,677 points, while senior Christian Lavorgna (Jefferson, N.J.) is in eighth with 3,490 points.

The ACC Outdoor Championships continue Saturday (May 14) with action beginning at 10 a.m. ESPN3 will have a live broadcast from 6-9:30 p.m.