No. 5 Virginia Men Place Third at ACC Championships

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May 15, 2016

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-The No. 5 Virginia men’s track and field team finished action at the ACC Outdoor Championships, placing third Sunday (May 15) at Mike Long Track in Tallahassee, Fla.

The Cavaliers finished with 80 points, behind champion Virginia Tech (129) and NC State (93). North Carolina tied for fourth with Florida State at 72 points, followed by Louisville (61.5), Clemson (61), Miami (58), Syracuse (48), Pitt (43), Notre Dame (32), Wake Forest (27), Duke (26.5) and Georgia Tech (15).

“When you come in being in a position to win a championship and you don’t fire on all cylinders, it is disappointing,” UVA director of track and field/cross country Bryan Fetzer said. “The one thing that is tough about it and our men need to learn is when you are one of the favorites, you have to perform like one of the favorites. We had some that did that, but we also had some that let distractions play with their mind a little bit. You have to learn to roll with the punches and we did not do that.”

Junior Filip Mihaljevic (Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina) was named the ACC Outdoor Championships Men’s Field Most Valuable Performer after winning his third-consecutive discus title with a season-best mark of 62.43m (204′ 10″), which ranks third in the NCAA. Mihaljevic, who won the shot put Saturday, has won seven ACC titles, including the last four shot put competitions (indoor and outdoor). Mihaljevic has tied Greg Canty for the most individual ACC titles (7) in program history.

“It really feels amazing to score as many points as possible and help the team,” Mihaljevic said. “It is such an honor to win the MVP award here. I’m really happy with my performances this weekend. All the hard work is paying off and we are moving in the right direction.”

Also in the discus, junior Jordan Young (Windsor, Ontario) earned All-ACC honors with a third-place finish and a season-best throw of 57.73m (189′ 5″).

Junior Henry Wynne (Westport, Conn.) led the 1,500 meters final all the way from the start to the finish, ending in a time of 3:42.16. It is Wynne’s fourth ACC title, but his first outdoor crown (mile in 2016 and distance medley relay in 2015-16). Also in the race, junior Mike Marsella (Hope Valley, R.I.) placed seventh in 3:44.88.

“I’m really happy with my performance in the 1,500 meters,” Wynne said. “Going wire-to-wire definitely isn’t the easiest way to win an ACC Championship, but I’ve been training my strength this year to be able to do things like that or sit back and kick if necessary. I’m just really proud that I could defend my mile title from indoors and help out the team. I’m looking forward to competing at regionals.”

“Henry is on a roll,” UVA distance coach Pete Watson said. “His confidence is high and he believes in himself and his fitness. He is hard to beat right now.”

In the triple jump, redshirt sophomore Aaron Worrell (Fort Eustis, Va.) earned second-team All-ACC honors with a fourth-place finish with a leap of 15.80m (51′ 10″ – wind-aided).

Sophomore Anthony Bouselli (Hawley, Pa.) placed eighth in the javelin with a mark of 58.87m (193′ 1″)

The meet also signified the men’s outdoor track and field matchup between Virginia and Virginia Tech in the Commonwealth Clash, sponsored by Virginia529, the official college savings plan of University of Virginia Athletics. By way of finishing higher in the team standings, Virginia Tech earned one point in the Virginia529 Commonwealth Clash, the point rivalry series between UVA and Virginia Tech. Virginia has clinched the 2015-16 Commonwealth Clash and leads, 13-7. Learn more about Virginia529 and this competition at thecommonwealthclash.com.

Up next, the Cavaliers compete at the NCAA East Preliminaries May 26-28 in Jacksonville, Fla.