Photo by: Caleb Jones | Louisville Athletics
KJ Byrd Tabbed ACC Men’s Field Athlete & Freshman of the Week
February 04, 2025 | Track & Field
The freshman becomes the first in program history to earn a pair of ACC weekly honors in the same week after setting a new Louisville freshman record in the men’s heptathlon.
GREENSBORO, N.C. – University of Louisville track & field freshman KJ Byrd has been named the ACC Men's Field Athlete of the Week and the ACC Men's Freshman of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday.
With the pair of honors, Byrd becomes the first athlete in program history to earn two ACC weekly awards in the same week and the only athlete to do so in the conference thus far this season.
The freshman made his first appearance in the heptathlon at the collegiate level last weekend at the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational, finishing as the runner-up with a total of 5,746 points to set a new Louisville freshman record and move to second in program history in the event.
Over the course of the competition's seven events, Byrd posted the top mark in the field in four events while setting a personal-best mark of 5.25m (17-2.75) in the pole vault along with a new personal record of 8.31 in the 60m hurdles.
The native of Connelly Springs, N.C. currently ranks ninth in the NCAA and first in the ACC in the heptathlon while also standing sixth in the conference in the men's pole vault and tied for ninth in the men's long jump.
Byrd has also made his mark on the Louisville record books through the first three collegiate meets of his career, as he currently ranks second in Louisville history in the men's heptathlon, third in the men's pole vault, and seventh in the men's 60m hurdles.
Byrd and the Cardinals will return to action later this week for the Eastern Indoors meet on Friday, February 7 at the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center.
For the latest information on Louisville Cross Country/Track & Field, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagram and Twitter account at @louisvilletfxc or on Facebook at facebook.com/LouisvilleTFXC.
With the pair of honors, Byrd becomes the first athlete in program history to earn two ACC weekly awards in the same week and the only athlete to do so in the conference thus far this season.
The freshman made his first appearance in the heptathlon at the collegiate level last weekend at the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational, finishing as the runner-up with a total of 5,746 points to set a new Louisville freshman record and move to second in program history in the event.
Over the course of the competition's seven events, Byrd posted the top mark in the field in four events while setting a personal-best mark of 5.25m (17-2.75) in the pole vault along with a new personal record of 8.31 in the 60m hurdles.
The native of Connelly Springs, N.C. currently ranks ninth in the NCAA and first in the ACC in the heptathlon while also standing sixth in the conference in the men's pole vault and tied for ninth in the men's long jump.
Byrd has also made his mark on the Louisville record books through the first three collegiate meets of his career, as he currently ranks second in Louisville history in the men's heptathlon, third in the men's pole vault, and seventh in the men's 60m hurdles.
Byrd and the Cardinals will return to action later this week for the Eastern Indoors meet on Friday, February 7 at the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center.
For the latest information on Louisville Cross Country/Track & Field, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagram and Twitter account at @louisvilletfxc or on Facebook at facebook.com/LouisvilleTFXC.
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