CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia freshman thrower Claudio Romero (Santiago, Chile) has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year the league office announced today (June 23). The honor was announced as part of the ACC’s individual award winners for the 2021 outdoor season. The awards are voted on by the ACC head track and field coaches.

Romero becomes the fourth Cavalier to receive the honor. Robby Andrews won it in 2010, Anthony Kostelac in 2011 and 2014 Filip Mihaljevic in 2014.

A first-team All-American after placing third (61.36 meters / 201’ 4”) at the NCAA Championships, Romero was previously announced as the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Men’s Field Athlete of the Year for its Southeast Region.

After setting Virginia men’s discus school records and placing among the national leaders throughout the regular season, Romero delivered the performance of his young career in the NCAA East Regional, as he hit a throw of 65.78m (215-10) that broke a 25-year-old ACC record. Romero had earlier won the discus title at the ACC Outdoor Championships with a throw 61.21m (200-10).

Romero also competed in the shot put where his season-best mark of 18.47 meters (60’ 7.25”) ranks No. 5 on the UVA all-time performance list. He finished sixth in the ACC shot put competition to earn second-team All-ACC honors in that event.

Three times this season he was named the ACC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week. This year he was the recipient of the team’s Coach’s Award for Excellence.