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DURHAM, N.C. – The Virginia Tech men’s team fought a gutsy battle all day at the 2011 ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, ultimately falling just short of a team title placing second with 153.5 points, while the women’s team placed seventh with 53.5 points. Numerous individuals came up with outstanding performances Saturday, including new all-time ACC records by Marcel Lomnicky and Dorotea Habazin in the hammer throw and four gold medals.

For the weekend, the Hokies had six ACC champions (four men, two women) and 14 All-ACC performances (12 men, two women). Florida State won the men’s team title with 174.5 points and Clemson won the women’s title with 202 points.

In a moment of deja-vu from the indoor meet, the Hokies again swept the podium for the men’s hammer throw, having swept the weight throw during the indoor meet. Denis Mahmic set a new PR in third (208-4, 63.51m), Alexander Ziegler would have owned the ACC meet record in second (236-2, 71.99m), however national-leader Lomnicky proved why he is first in the nation, dominating the competition with a new school record and nation-leading mark of 248-10 (75.84m). This not only breaks his own school record (245-6, 74.83m) and ACC meet record of 235-6 (71.80m), set last season, but it is also an all-time ACC record, beating former Hokie Spyridon Jullien’s mark of 238-5 (72.68m) set in 2005. This is his third consecutive ACC hammer throw title, his fourth overall conference title in any event.

However it was Habazin who started the day off in record-breaking fashion for the Hokies, winning the women’s hammer throw with an all-time ACC record toss of 224-3 (68.36m) on her first attempt, over 42 feet further than second-place. She beats the previous record of 220-6 (67.21m) set by Clemson’s Jamine Moton in 2002. This is Habazin’s third career hammer throw title, her fourth conference title overall. This also sets a new school record, beating Habazin’s own previous record of 218-11 (66.74m).

After numerous All-ACC triple jump performances, junior Hasheem Halim can finally add a gold medal to his trophy case, winning the event on his final jump of 52-10 (16.10m). This is Tech’s first ever ACC triple jump title, their first conference triple jump title since 2004 in the BIG EAST. His final attempt beat out Tech running back David Wilson, who missed today’s spring game but came away with a silver medal (52-6.75, 16.02m). The Hokies also took the top two spots in the men’s pole vault, with Jared Jodon earning his first career title (17-2.75, 5.25m) and Joe Davis placing second (16-10.75, 5.15m). Tech has now won six consecutive men’s pole vault titles, three indoor and three outdoor.

The women’s 400-meter relay finished second in a stellar neck-and-neck race with conference leader Clemson. The squad of Ebony Scott, Funmi Alabi, Zakiya Tyson and Ogechi Nwaneri crossed the line with a season-best finish of 44.68, which ranks fourth all-time at Tech. Their counterparts on the men’s side, Wilson, Keith Ricks, Darrell Wesh and Ebenezer Amegashie added more points to the men’s total with a third-place finish (41.01). Michael Hammond earned All-ACC accolades with a push on the final lap to finish third in the 1,500 meters (3:43.62). Defending ACC champion Will Mulherin ran a tight race in the 5,000 meters, ultimately finishing second to earn All-ACC honors at 13:55.25.

Next weekend the Hokies head north to Philadelphia, Pa., for the historic Penn Relays. A handful of others will head to NRV neighbor Radford for the running of the Highlander Invitational.

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
Men’s
1. Florida State - 174.5
2. Virginia Tech - 153.5
3. North Carolina - 112.5
4. Clemson - 89
5. Duke - 86.5
6. Virginia - 67
7. NC State - 50
8. Wake Forest - 38
9. Miami - 21
10. Maryland - 20
11. Georgia Tech - 5

Women's
1. Clemson - 202
2. Florida State - 132.5
3. North Carolina - 117.5
4. Duke - 81.5
5. Virginia - 62.5
6. Miami - 57
7. Virginia Tech - 53.5
8. NC State - 39.5
9. Maryland - 34
10. Georgia Tech - 19
11. Boston College - 15
12. Wake Forest - 3

For updates on Virginia Tech track & field, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Track).