No. 5 Virginia Men Second Heading into Final Day of ACCs

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May 14, 2016

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-The No. 5 Virginia men’s track and field team is in second place after two days of the ACC Outdoor Championships at Mike Long Track in Tallahassee, Fla.

The Cavaliers are second with 43 points, behind Virginia Tech, who has 64. Louisville is third with 37.5 points, ahead of NC State (37) and Miami (32).

“We are about where we expected to be heading into the final day,” UVA director of track and field/cross country Bryan Fetzer said. “Tomorrow is all about executing and taking advantage of the task at hand.”

Junior Filip Mihaljevic (Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina) successfully defended his shot put title, winning with a throw of 19.83m (65′ 0.75″). It is Mihaljevic’s sixth ACC crown and he has won the last four ACC shot put competitions (indoor and outdoor) and is also the two-time defending champion in the discus, which will be contested Saturday.

“It was really nice to compete here in Tallahassee,” Mihaljevic said. “The weather was good, but we are still training really hard that is why we aren’t throwing at our peak yet. Coach (Kemal) Mesic is doing a great job here we will be at our best when it matters the most.”

Also in the shot put, redshirt freshman Oghenakpobo Efekoro (Brooklyn, N.Y.) earned All-ACC honors with a second-place mark of 19.53m (64′ 1″), which ranks third on UVA’s all-time list.

In the final competition of his collegiate career, senior Christian Lavorgna (Jefferson, N.J.) earned All-ACC honors and finished second with a personal-best score of 7,064 points, which ranks sixth on UVA’s all-time list. Lavorgna used a final push to win the 1,500 meters in a PR of 4:33.30 to accomplish the feat. Redshirt sophomore Cam Collins (Calhoun, Ga.) finished sixth with 6,830 points to earn second-team All-ACC honors.

“It felt great,” Lavorgna said. “To finish up winning the 1,500 and PR overall with my teammates, Cam, and the coaching staff all behind me, it was awesome. I have loved this team and competing with Virginia on my chest, it’s been so much fun. I can’t wait to see what my teammates can do on the final day at these championships.”

“Christian wrapped up his UVA career by achieving a dream performance in the decathlon,” UVA assistant coach Mario Wilson said. “Setting personal bests in multiple events on day 2 led to an overall lifetime best and most importantly, a second-place finish, his first podium. For me, it was one of the most satisfying feelings to see him place as high as he did. To think of what he had to put himself through academically during the fall and the almost ritual injuries over the years that he fought back from time and time again. His presence and leadership will be missed.”

“Christian is one of the best leaders I have ever had as a coach,” Fetzer said. “He does it by example, so a personal best and being on the podium in his last collegiate competition is a fitting way for him to go out. He will be sorely missed because has done so much for this program during his time at UVA.”

In the 3,000m steeplechase, graduate student William Gray (Birmingham, England) placed fifth to earn second-team All-ACC honors. His time of 8:45.82 ranks sixth on UVA’s all-time list.

The ACC Outdoor Championships conclude Sunday (May 15). ESPN3 will broadcast live starting at 6 p.m.