University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Thursday, February 25
Clemson, SC
Pitt
vs
2021 ACC Indoor Championships
Pitt Men Post Highest Finish Ever At ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships
2/28/2021 1:08:00 PM | Track & Field
CLEMSON, SC – The Pitt track and field team wrapped up weekend action at the 2021 ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday evening with one ACC Champion and four podiums. The Pitt men were able to finish off their best showing at the Championship meet since joining the conference in 2013-14.
The men were able to post their highest finish, tied for fourth, in program history on Saturday as they posted a program record 48 points. The men had a total of four podiums at the Championship meet, most in program history, including an ACC Champion in the Heptathlon for the first time in program history.
"Our fourth place finish is similar to the big improvement that our men's team made during the 2019 outdoor championships when they improved from 10th to 4th," stated head coach Alonzo Webb. "This weekend their improvement was even more impressive as they were able to go from 11th last year to 4th this year. I was really impressed with the focus and composure of the men the entire weekend. When then saw an opportunity they embraced it and capitalized on it."
In all, the Pitt men had two individuals (Wolter, Lauray) earn First Team All-ACC honors while 12 others earned Second Team All-ACC honors across the weekend. The 14 All-ACC performers for the men marked a program record as the previous high for All-Conference honorees was eight (2014, 2016).
On the women's side, Pitt was able to post a 13th finish with 14 points as three individuals and two relays notched points for the Panthers. Junior Eddita Pessima and senior Abena Atuobi each earned Second Team-All ACC honors for the first time in their careers.
"Looking at the women's results it may be hard to believe that we are not far from doing the same on the women's side as we did on the men's," said Webb. "We are very close to turning the women's team around. We have the talent, the confidence is not quite there but it's getting close.
SATURDAY
The highlight of Championship Saturday for the Panthers was the performance by the men's 4x400m relay squad as they raced to a second place finish to earn a podium spot and Second Team All-ACC honors. The quartet of Lonzell Feagin, Matt Wilson, Raymond Oriakhi and Ade Jones-Roundtree posted a season-best time of 3:10.05 to take home second place while also posting the sixth fastest time in program history in the event.
The women's 4x400m relay squad had an impressive showing of their own on Saturday as they were able to secure fourth place in 3:45.49. The quartet of Nikki Scherer, Pessima, Flora Ahiarakwe and Ilse Steigenga earned the Panthers five points with the season-best time. Steigenga was a late add to the relay as she had never competed in the event as a collegiate runner.
"What really stood out to me was when we were faced with some adversity, we responded," Webb explained. "When one of our women's 4x400m relay legs and our alternate were unable to perform, we had to call on freshman Ilse Steigenga. We put her in the most high pressured position even for the most seasoned 400 meter runner as anchor in her first championship meet and she not once tried to back out or back down in that situation. That is what a true champion is made of. Our team was able to finish fourth, just missing the podium by one place and running our second best time of the season."
In the 3000m run, sophomore Jack Miller had a historic run for the Panthers as he was able to break a three-year old school record (formerly held by teammate Nick Wolk) by over five seconds with a time of 8:01.54. Miller finished the race in fifth place to earn Second Team All-ACC honors while also scoring four points for his team, marking the first time he scored points at the Indoor Championship. In the same race, senior Josh Higgins posted a time of 8:14.00 which is the fifth fastest in program history in the event.
"Jack Miller coming through with a big personal best and school record in the 3k was a huge lift for us going into the final men's event the 4x4 which needed come up big to move from sixth to a tie for fourth which they accomplished," stated Webb.
Jones-Roundtree had his best showing of the season in the men's 200m finals on Saturday as he took home fifth place with a season-best time of 21.32 seconds. With the performance, Jones-Roundtree earned Second Team All-ACC and scored four points for the Panthers.
On the women's side, Pessima was able to score points for the Panthers for the second straight season in the 60m hurdles finals as she posted a fifth place finish in 8.30 seconds. She earned Second Team All-ACC honors while scoring four points for Pitt after earning a third place finish in the race at last season's Indoor Championships.
Atuobi had an impressive showing in the shot put for the Panthers as she took home sixth place with a huge PR throw of 51'0.25" (15.55m). The throw is the third best in program history as Atuobi earned Second Team All-ACC honors for the first time in her career while also notching three points for the squad.
Senior Nikki Scherer scored a point in the 400m finals for the second straight season as she notched an eighth place finish with a season-best time of 54.95 seconds.
"I'm very proud and excited for the trajectory of the men's team and looking forward to the growth of the women's team heading into the outdoor season that is a short three weeks away," said Webb.
The Medalists:
Felix Wolter – Gold – Heptathlon
Wolter entered Friday's final three events in second place with 3,089 points after a strong first day of competition. The senior opened up his day with another impressive showing in the 60m hurdles as he secured the win with a new personal record time of 8.30 seconds as he earned 908 points. Wolter backed up his hurdles victory with another win in the pole vault as he cleared a personal record height of 15'9.00" (4.80m), the second best pole vault height in program history. He then went on to claim third place in the 1000m run with a personal record time of 2:48.09 to secure his heptathlon victory.
Wolter scored a new program record 5,632 points while becoming the first Pitt heptathlete to earn a spot on the podium at the ACC Indoor Championships. He also was named First Team All-ACC for his efforts while earning the Panthers 10 team points. In total, Wolter won three of the seven events in the heptathlon while no other competitor earned more than one victory.
The transfer posted five personal best performances and currently ranks 13th in the NCAA in the heptathlon with a score of 5,632.
Greg Lauray – Silver – High Jump
For the third straight season, Lauray was able to earn a spot on the podium in the high jump as he secured a second place finish after clearing 6'11.75" (2.13m). His second place leap earned him First Team All-ACC honors for the third straight season.
His season-best height of 7'1.50" (2.17m) currently ranks 13th in the NCAA as he will look to advance to the NCAA Indoor Championships for the second straight season. After the Indoor Championships were cancelled a season ago, Lauray earned All-America honors for the first time in his career.
Men's Distance Medley Relay – Silver
The men's distance medley relay team had their best showing of the season on Thursday as they were able to race to a second place finish and the first podium for a Pitt DMR team in program history at the ACC Indoor Championships. The quartet of Evan Addison, Matt Wilson, Josh Higgins and Jack Miller crossed the finish line in a season-best time of 9:42.29 to finish just behind the winning team from Virginia Tech. The time is the third best in program history in the event for the Panthers.
With the second place finish, the team earned Second Team All-ACC honors and eight points towards the team score.
Men's 4x400m Relay – Silver
The highlight of Championship Saturday for the Panthers was the performance by the men's 4x400m relay squad as they raced to a second place finish to earn a podium spot and Second Team All-ACC honors. The quartet of Lonzell Feagin, Matt Wilson, Raymond Oriakhi and Ade Jones-Roundtree posted a season-best time of 3:10.05 to take home second place while also posting the sixth fastest time in program history in the event.
ALL-ACC HONOREES
Men – 14 (Program Record)
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The men were able to post their highest finish, tied for fourth, in program history on Saturday as they posted a program record 48 points. The men had a total of four podiums at the Championship meet, most in program history, including an ACC Champion in the Heptathlon for the first time in program history.
"Our fourth place finish is similar to the big improvement that our men's team made during the 2019 outdoor championships when they improved from 10th to 4th," stated head coach Alonzo Webb. "This weekend their improvement was even more impressive as they were able to go from 11th last year to 4th this year. I was really impressed with the focus and composure of the men the entire weekend. When then saw an opportunity they embraced it and capitalized on it."
In all, the Pitt men had two individuals (Wolter, Lauray) earn First Team All-ACC honors while 12 others earned Second Team All-ACC honors across the weekend. The 14 All-ACC performers for the men marked a program record as the previous high for All-Conference honorees was eight (2014, 2016).
On the women's side, Pitt was able to post a 13th finish with 14 points as three individuals and two relays notched points for the Panthers. Junior Eddita Pessima and senior Abena Atuobi each earned Second Team-All ACC honors for the first time in their careers.
"Looking at the women's results it may be hard to believe that we are not far from doing the same on the women's side as we did on the men's," said Webb. "We are very close to turning the women's team around. We have the talent, the confidence is not quite there but it's getting close.
SATURDAY
The highlight of Championship Saturday for the Panthers was the performance by the men's 4x400m relay squad as they raced to a second place finish to earn a podium spot and Second Team All-ACC honors. The quartet of Lonzell Feagin, Matt Wilson, Raymond Oriakhi and Ade Jones-Roundtree posted a season-best time of 3:10.05 to take home second place while also posting the sixth fastest time in program history in the event.
The women's 4x400m relay squad had an impressive showing of their own on Saturday as they were able to secure fourth place in 3:45.49. The quartet of Nikki Scherer, Pessima, Flora Ahiarakwe and Ilse Steigenga earned the Panthers five points with the season-best time. Steigenga was a late add to the relay as she had never competed in the event as a collegiate runner.
"What really stood out to me was when we were faced with some adversity, we responded," Webb explained. "When one of our women's 4x400m relay legs and our alternate were unable to perform, we had to call on freshman Ilse Steigenga. We put her in the most high pressured position even for the most seasoned 400 meter runner as anchor in her first championship meet and she not once tried to back out or back down in that situation. That is what a true champion is made of. Our team was able to finish fourth, just missing the podium by one place and running our second best time of the season."
In the 3000m run, sophomore Jack Miller had a historic run for the Panthers as he was able to break a three-year old school record (formerly held by teammate Nick Wolk) by over five seconds with a time of 8:01.54. Miller finished the race in fifth place to earn Second Team All-ACC honors while also scoring four points for his team, marking the first time he scored points at the Indoor Championship. In the same race, senior Josh Higgins posted a time of 8:14.00 which is the fifth fastest in program history in the event.
"Jack Miller coming through with a big personal best and school record in the 3k was a huge lift for us going into the final men's event the 4x4 which needed come up big to move from sixth to a tie for fourth which they accomplished," stated Webb.
Jones-Roundtree had his best showing of the season in the men's 200m finals on Saturday as he took home fifth place with a season-best time of 21.32 seconds. With the performance, Jones-Roundtree earned Second Team All-ACC and scored four points for the Panthers.
On the women's side, Pessima was able to score points for the Panthers for the second straight season in the 60m hurdles finals as she posted a fifth place finish in 8.30 seconds. She earned Second Team All-ACC honors while scoring four points for Pitt after earning a third place finish in the race at last season's Indoor Championships.
Atuobi had an impressive showing in the shot put for the Panthers as she took home sixth place with a huge PR throw of 51'0.25" (15.55m). The throw is the third best in program history as Atuobi earned Second Team All-ACC honors for the first time in her career while also notching three points for the squad.
Senior Nikki Scherer scored a point in the 400m finals for the second straight season as she notched an eighth place finish with a season-best time of 54.95 seconds.
"I'm very proud and excited for the trajectory of the men's team and looking forward to the growth of the women's team heading into the outdoor season that is a short three weeks away," said Webb.
The Medalists:
Felix Wolter – Gold – Heptathlon
Wolter entered Friday's final three events in second place with 3,089 points after a strong first day of competition. The senior opened up his day with another impressive showing in the 60m hurdles as he secured the win with a new personal record time of 8.30 seconds as he earned 908 points. Wolter backed up his hurdles victory with another win in the pole vault as he cleared a personal record height of 15'9.00" (4.80m), the second best pole vault height in program history. He then went on to claim third place in the 1000m run with a personal record time of 2:48.09 to secure his heptathlon victory.
Wolter scored a new program record 5,632 points while becoming the first Pitt heptathlete to earn a spot on the podium at the ACC Indoor Championships. He also was named First Team All-ACC for his efforts while earning the Panthers 10 team points. In total, Wolter won three of the seven events in the heptathlon while no other competitor earned more than one victory.
The transfer posted five personal best performances and currently ranks 13th in the NCAA in the heptathlon with a score of 5,632.
Greg Lauray – Silver – High Jump
For the third straight season, Lauray was able to earn a spot on the podium in the high jump as he secured a second place finish after clearing 6'11.75" (2.13m). His second place leap earned him First Team All-ACC honors for the third straight season.
His season-best height of 7'1.50" (2.17m) currently ranks 13th in the NCAA as he will look to advance to the NCAA Indoor Championships for the second straight season. After the Indoor Championships were cancelled a season ago, Lauray earned All-America honors for the first time in his career.
Men's Distance Medley Relay – Silver
The men's distance medley relay team had their best showing of the season on Thursday as they were able to race to a second place finish and the first podium for a Pitt DMR team in program history at the ACC Indoor Championships. The quartet of Evan Addison, Matt Wilson, Josh Higgins and Jack Miller crossed the finish line in a season-best time of 9:42.29 to finish just behind the winning team from Virginia Tech. The time is the third best in program history in the event for the Panthers.
With the second place finish, the team earned Second Team All-ACC honors and eight points towards the team score.
Men's 4x400m Relay – Silver
The highlight of Championship Saturday for the Panthers was the performance by the men's 4x400m relay squad as they raced to a second place finish to earn a podium spot and Second Team All-ACC honors. The quartet of Lonzell Feagin, Matt Wilson, Raymond Oriakhi and Ade Jones-Roundtree posted a season-best time of 3:10.05 to take home second place while also posting the sixth fastest time in program history in the event.
ALL-ACC HONOREES
Men – 14 (Program Record)
- Felix Wolter – 1st Team – Heptathlon
- Greg Lauray – 1st Team – High Jump
- Evan Addison – 2nd Team – DMR
- Josh Higgins – 2nd Team - DMR
- Jack Miller – 2nd Team (2x) – 3000m, DMR
- Matt Wilson – 2nd Team (2x) – DMR, 4x400m
- Noah Walker – 2nd Team – Weight Throw
- Kollin Smith – 2nd Team – Long Jump
- Ade Jones-Roundtree – 2nd Team (2x) – 200m, 4x400m
- Lonzell Feagin – 2nd Team – 4x400m
- Raymond Oriakhi – 2nd Team – 4x400m
- Abena Atuobi – 2nd Team – Shot Put
- Eddita Pessima – 2nd Team – 60m Hurdles
- The Panthers have two student-athletes on the men's side who have qualified for the 2021 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The three-day meet will run from Thursday, March 11 until Saturday, March 13.
- Felix Wolter (Heptathlon) and Greg Lauray (High Jump) both currently own the top spots in the ACC and the No. 13 spots in the NCAA
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