Scott, Dabbs Capture ACC Titles on Opening Day of ACC Championships
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia men’s track and field team opened the ACC Championships at Lannigan Field on Thursday (May 9) with junior Jordan Scott (Portmore, Jamaica) and freshman Ethan Dabbs (Johnstown, Pa.) each capturing an ACC title.
After the first day of events, the Cavaliers are in first place with 34 points. Syracuse is in second place with 15 points, while Notre Dame and Pittsburgh are tied for third place with 12 points.
With his opening throw of the meet, Dabbs set both an ACC meet and Virginia school record in the javelin. The freshman threw 76.04m (249-6), topping his previous career-best mark of 71.31m (233-11), to capture the top throw of the meet by over 16 feet. The throw ranks third in the NCAA this season.
“Ethan (Dabbs) just showing how much potential he has.” assistant coach Martin Maric said. “He took one throw and called it a day. That’s something you see from just the best of the best, and he is showing he is there right now as only a freshman.”
Scott set a school record on his way to winning the ACC title in the long jump, shattering the previous UVA record mark of 7.70m (25-3.25) set by Greg Byers in 1982. The junior jumped 7.83m (25-8.25) in the second round of competition. The win was the first for Scott in the event, who is a two-time ACC champion in the indoor triple jump. The mark also ranks 11th in the region.
Graduate student Brent Demarest (Charleston, S.C.) finished second in the 10000m with a season-best time of 29:17.26. He recorded his second All-ACC honor in the event and the seventh honor of his career.
Freshman Ayende Watson (Baltimore, Md.) joined Scott on the podium in the long jump, finishing third with a mark of 7.56m (24-9.75). His jump is the fourth best in school history. Additionally, Watson earned All-ACC honors for his performance.
Junior Spencer Dodds (Temecula, Calif.) ran the third-fastest time of the night in the 1500m to qualify for the finals on Saturday. His time of 3:47.41 was a career-best.
The Cavaliers will return to competition tomorrow for day two of the ACC Championships. Events will begin at 11 a.m.