Leon Wins Gold Medal in Pole Vault to Lead Louisville on Day One of the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships

Thursday, May 13

Raleigh, N.C.

All Day

University of Louisville

ACC Outdoor Championships

RALEIGH, NC - MAY 13: Louisville takes 1st place during the Women’s Pole Vault of the ACC Track and Field Championships on May 13th, 2021 at NC State in Raleigh, NC

Photo by: Jaylynn Nash

Leon Wins Gold Medal in Pole Vault to Lead Louisville on Day One of the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships

May 13, 2021 | Track & Field

By: Lori Harmon

RALEIGH, N.C. – Gabriela Leon won the gold medal in the pole vault to lead the University of Louisville women's track and field team on day one of the Atlantic Coast Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships Thursday at Paul Derr Track and Field Facility in Raleigh, N.C. The women sit in first place with 36.5 points while the men are in 11^th with 4.5 points after five events scored.

Please see Live results link for complete results of all of Thursday's final and preliminary events.

Day two of the three-day ACC Championship is set for Friday, beginning with the women's javelin at 11 a.m. Other schedule highlights include finals in four more field events, as well as the men's and women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. Also slated for Friday are the concluding events of men's decathlon and women's heptathlon, and preliminaries in a combined eight men's and women's running events.

2021 ACC Track & Field Championship Info:
Friday, May 14
ACC Network Extra 11 a.m.-9 p.m. | Watch Link | Live Results Link

Day One Highlights
The Louisville women tallied six all-ACC performances while six Cardinals established personal-bests in their events.

Leon opened the day with her first ACC Conference title in the pole vault. The senior cleared 4.13m (13-6.5) on her first attempt to secure the gold medal. Aliyah Welter finished tied for fourth and earned second team all-ACC honors after clearing 4.13m (13-6.5) on her second try. Auriane Viola placed eighth at 3.88m (12-8.75).

Purity Sanga claimed the silver medal in the 10,000m achieving her personal-record time of 32:49.07, besting her previous record of 34:05.91 and earning all-ACC first team honors along the way. The time also stands third in Louisville's record book. Bailey Beery also clocked her best time of 34:19.60 to finish 20^th while Ivine Chemutai turned in her season best 34:30.97 to finish 22^nd.

Louisville picked up two all-conference second team performances and registered a pair of career bests in the hammer throw. Makenli Forrest led a trio of Cardinals with a throw of 61.95m (203-3) to earn a fourth-place finish and second-team all-ACC honors. Halee Hudson's personal-best throw of 59.87m (196-5) was good for sixth and another all-conference honor. Tiana Bazie established a new career best throw of 55.10m (180-9) to finish ninth.

In the long jump, Renate van Tonder's personal-best effort of 6.28m (20-7.25) earned a fourth-place finish and second team all-ACC honors.

Isabelle Angerman registered personal best time of 1:03.44 in the 400m hurdles.

On the men's side, Sean Roth earned second-team all-ACC honors, finishing fifth with a clearance of 4.96m (16-3.25). The mark also stands tied for sixth on Louisville's all-time list.

Erik Fertig established a new personal best with a mark of 59.66m (195-9) to finish eighth in the hammer throw.

Justin Lehmkuhler stands in fifth place through five events of the decathlon. His Thursday performances included three personal bests. The freshman finished atop the decathlon high jump standings with a leap of 1.92m (6-3.5). He also registered career-best days in the shot put (6.59m/21-.25) and the long jump (6.59/21-7.25).

Louisville Results - ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Paul Derr Track and Field Facility| Raleigh, N.C.
May 13, 2021
Men Decathlon – Through Five Events
5 - Justin Lehmkuhler, 3275
100m (Decathlon)
5 – Justin Lehmkuhler, 11.79
Long Jump (Decathlon)
4 -Justin Lehmkuhler, 6.59m (21-7.25)*
Shot Put (Decathlon)
5 – 11.31m (37-1.25)*
High Jump (Decathlon)
1 – Justin Lehmkuhler, 1.92m (6-3.5)*
400m (Decathlon)
5 – Justin Lehmkuhler, 55.72

Women Pole Vault
1 – Gabriela Leon, 4.13m (13-6.5)!
T4 – Aliyah Welter, 4.13m (13-6.5)#
8 – Auriane Viola, 3.88m (12-8.75)

Men Hammer Throw
8 – Erik Fertig, 59.66m (195-9)*

Men Pole Vault
5 – Sean Roth, 4.96m (16-3.25)#

Women Long Jump
4 – Renate van Tonder, 6.28m (20-7.25)*#
15 – Alexis Gibbons, 5.70m (18-8.5)
24 – Gabriela Leon, 5.21m (17-1.75)

Women Hammer Throw
4 – Makenli Forrest, 61.95m (203-3)#
6 – Halee Hudson, 59.87m (196-5)*#
9 – Tiana Bazie, 55.10m (180-9)*

Men Long Jump
10 – Jeremiah Willis, 7.28m (23-10.75)

Women 400m Hurdles Prelims
19 – Isabelle Angerman, 1:04.44*

Men 400m Hurdles Prelims
14 – Kameron Jones, 56.53

Men 200m Prelims
21 – Tkai Wade, 21.80

Women 200m Prelims
29 – Jaelynn Williams, 25.14

Women 1500m Prelims
14 – Emma Bryant, 4:22.93*

Women 10,000m Finals
2 – Purity Sanga, 32:49.07*!
20 – Bailey Beery, 34:19.60*
22 – Ivine Chemutai, 34:30.97 (SB)

Men 1500m Prelims
38 – Ben Ewert, 4:00.95
39 – Isaac Kiprop, 4:08.47

!ACC 1^st team; #ACC 2^nd team; *Personal best

Team Scores
Women (4 out of 21 scored)
1 – Louisville, 36.5
2 – North Carolina, 24.5
3 – Virginia Tech, 22
4 – Georgia Tech, 21
5 – Virginia, 14
6 – NC State, 10
7 – Duke, 9
8 – Syracuse, 8
9 – Notre Dame, 6
10 – Florida State, 3
11 – Miami, 2
Boston College
Clemson
Pittsburgh
Wake Forest

Men (5 out of 21 scored)
1 – Notre Dame, 42.5
2 – Virginia Tech, 23.5
3 – NC State, 22
4 – North Carolina, 21
5 – Virginia, 18
6 – Florida state, 15
7 – Pittsburgh, 12
7 – Syracuse, 12
9 – Miami, 9
10 - Duke 8
11 – Louisville, 4.5
12 – Georgia Tech, 3.5
13 – Wake Forest, 3
14 – Clemson, 1