Polychroniou Wins Gold as Cavaliers Kick-Start Competition at ACC Indoor Championships

BOSTON — The Virginia men’s and women’s track and field opened competition at the 2026 ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships at the TRACK at New Balance on Thursday (Feb. 26) as Nickolaos Polychroniou won the men's weight throw to lead a total of 10 Cavaliers on the podium. 

Heptathlon Day 1
8. Henry Sullivan  2870 pts

5. Cassie Callis 3748 pts PR, UVA No. 8, Freshman Record

• Nikolaos Polychroniou won the men's weight throw competition throwing for a new personal best mark of 23.06m/75-8. His mark is the second best in program history.
• After winning the event a year ago, Jeremiah Nubbe earned the bronze medal throwing for 22.56m/74-0.25.
• This marks the second straight year in which the Cavaliers have taken home the title in the men's weight throw.
• Also in the field were Keyandre Davis (22.50m/73-10) and Cale Ayers (20.83m/68-4.25) in fourth and seventh place. For his performance, Davis earned second team All-ACC accolades.
• In the women's weight throw, Charlotta Sandkulla broke the school record on her sixth throw with her mark of 20.48m/67-2.50. Sandkulla's mark was good for fifth place overall and second team All-ACC honors.
• The previous program record in the women's weight throw stood at 20.06m/65-9.75 by Eliese Mitchell in 2002.
• Alongside Sandkulla in the women's weight throw final was Bree Lumpkin. Lumpkin threw a new personal best on her first attempt in the competition. Her mark of 18.58m/60-11.50 moved up to Virginia No. 3 all-time. 

• The relay team of Harrison Witt, Anders Felts, Alex Leath and Justin Wachtel finished runner-up in the distance medley relay clocking 9:35.39.
• The dynamic duo of Gary Martin and Nathan Mountain earned the silver and bronze medal in the men's 5000-meters as Martin crossed the line in 13:41.66 just ahead of Mountain in a new personal best time of 13:43.16. Mountain's time moves up to No 5 all-time.
• In the women's 5000-meter run, Gillian Bushee recorded a personal best of 15:48.47 to earn the bronze medal and move up to No. 3 all-time in program history. 

 

• In the men's 5000-meter unseeded section, Will Anthony finished fourth crossing the line in 13:57.24. His time was 11^th overall between the two sections.
• Sarah Akpan equaled her season best in the women's 200-meter prelim clocking 24.32.
• After getting tripped up on the curve, the relay team of Cate DeSousa, Brooke'Lyn Drakeford, Ella Woehlcke and Tatum David finished sixth in 11:09.94.

 

First Team: Elsa Spoor (Pent), Nate Mountain (5000m), Gary Martin (5000m), Nikolaos Polychroniou (WT), Jeremiah Nubbe (WT), Gillian Bushee (5000m)
Second Team: Cassie Callis (Pent), Keyandre Davis (WT), Harrison Witt (DMR), Anders Felts (DMR), Alex Leath (DMR), Justin Wachtel (DMR)

The Virginia men's and women's track and field teams continue competition at the 2026 ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships at the TRACK at New Balance in Boston on Friday, Feb. 27 at 11 a.m.