24 Inside Hokie Sports Freshman phenom Kenna Stimmel had herself a weekend on the track, as well. The 2023 ACC Women’s Indoor Freshman of the Year placed first in pole vault after clearing 4.40m (14’5.25”), and would go on to finish fourth at the NCAA Indoor Championships resulting in a First Team AllAmerican honoree in her first season at the collegiate ranks. You certainly can’t talk about Tech track and field without raving about longtime mainstay Rebecca Mammel as well. The second-year Hokie and former All-American honoree as a Michigan State Spartan just finished off her second consecutive ACC title in the weight throw event for the maroon and orange. She broke the meet record with a toss of 23.29m (76’5”) to earn gold for the second straight year representing Virginia Tech. Don’t forget, all this comes just a week after Mammel shattered the conference’s all-time indoor record with a remarkable 23.96m (77’ 8.75”) launch at the previous weekend’s Virginia Tech Challenge inside of Rector Fieldhouse. The mark was set on the Tecumseh, Michigan product’s final attempt on the day, and it now stands as the conference’s all-time best that any woman has ever achieved in the ACC’s long-winded history. Perhaps more so than anything, though, is the ability to get caught up and get drawn into the Hokies’ now continued dominance that’s begun to truly circulate around the ACC. Now winners of five of the last seven men’s indoor titles, three of the last women’s indoor championships, and 21 overall league crowns since Cianelli took over prior to the 2001-02 campaign, Tech has quietly pivoted to one of the more premier powers throughout the entirety of the sport. And while we’re at it, it’s easy to see the progressive development across the movement of time. Eight-time ACC men’s indoor champions that all have taken place since 2011, and now five-time women’s indoor titleholders that have bulked up as of late with a recent program push, it’s easy to see how Cianelli has been able to stack up 21 postseason crowns ever since arriving in Blacksburg. And with potentially much more left in the tank, and the Hokies showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon, the future still appears to be brighter than ever for Tech track and field. With constant growth comes continued success, and for those to take the track in maroon and orange, there’s no reason why that can’t continue to be the case. As the outdoor season is now fully underway and nearing its close, it may not be too much longer before the Hokies add another trophy to their collection. And with five individual winners, and many more that garnered First Team All-ACC accolades, the possibilities continue to be endless for Tech track and field each and every time the Hokies are ready to go. highlight Men’s and Women’s ACC Indoor Titles ® Continued from page 23
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