Pekar Named ACC Co-Field Performer of the Week

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Freshmen Derek Pekar (Ventura, Calif.) was named the Men’s ACC Co-Field Performer of the Week, the league office announced on Wednesday (Jan. 29). Pekar earned his first ACC weekly accolade, sharing the honor with Florida State’s Caleb Parker.
 
In his first collegiate heptathlon, Pekar recorded a score of 5,354 to lead the Virginia men’s track and field team at the Hokie Invitational (Jan. 24-25). His score places him in the top-10 nationally, ranking sixth in the event this season. Pekar is the only freshman nationally to score more than 5,100 points in the heptathlon this year.
 
Pekar’s score also ranks second all-time in UVA history and leads the conference in the event.
 
At the Hokie Invitational, Pekar finished in the top-three in five of his seven events, including topping the field in three events. He scored over 850 points in back-to-back events on Saturday, closing the competition with the 60m hurdles and the pole vault.
 
Pekar and the Cavaliers will return to action on Saturday (Feb. 1), traveling to Annapolis, Md., for the Navy Invitational II.