Gunnarsson tabbed ACC Women's Indoor Freshman of the Year

The pole vaulter becomes the third Hokie to earn the award

March 16, 2018

ACC Release

GREENSBORO, N.C. – After executing one of the best indoor seasons in Virginia Tech track and field history, Lisa Gunnarsson earned ACC Women’s Indoor Freshman of the Year, as announced by the league office on Friday morning.

Gunnarsson, a pole vaulter, turned in many memorable performances her first few months in Blacksburg, earning gold at the ACC Indoor Championships at Clemson and fourth place for first-team All-America honors at the NCAA Indoor Championships at Texas A&M. The newcomer set the facility record at the Clemson Indoor Track and Field Complex during the regular season, too.

The indoor pole vault school record on the women’s side was reset by the Sweden native on Jan. 26, just the third collegiate meet of her young career. Gunnarsson jumped a height of 4.46 meters (14 feet, 7.5 inches) to take first at the Bob Pollack Invitational. She placed first in three regular-season meets, all in the month of January.

Her top vault in the winter (4.46 meters) was in the top five nationally throughout the season and first in the ACC.

Gunnarsson becomes the third Hokie on the women’s side during the indoor season to earn the award, joining Samira Burkhardt (2011) and Abigail Schaffer (2009). Last season on the men’s side, sprinter Michael Davenport collected the honor.

Earlier in the week, Gunnarsson was named a preseason All-American by FloTrack for the outdoor season.

Gunnarsson and the rest of the Hokies have the weekend off and will hit the road on March 23-24 to compete in the Weems Baskin Invitational in Columbia, South Carolina, kicking off the outdoor season.

ACC Men’s Indoor Track Performer of the Year – Justyn Knight, Syracuse
ACC Women’s Indoor Track Performer of the Year – Elly Henes, NC State
ACC Men’s Indoor Field Performer of the Year – Josh Davis, NC State
ACC Women’s Indoor Field Performer of the Year – Nicole Greene, North Carolina
ACC Men’s Indoor Track and Field Freshman of the Year – Trey Cunningham, Florida State
ACC Women’s Indoor Freshman of the Year – Lisa Gunnarsson, Virginia Tech
ACC Men’s Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year – Bob Braman, Florida State
ACC Women’s Indoor Coach of the Year – Bob Braman, Florida State

For updates on Virginia Tech track & field, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @HokiesTFXC