KJ Byrd Recognized as ACC Men’s Indoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year
March 28, 2025 | Track & Field
He becomes the second in program history to win the honor after an indoor season where he won the ACC title in the heptathlon and placed seventh in the event at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – University of Louisville track & field freshman KJ Byrd has been named the 2025 ACC Men's Indoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year, as announced by the conference office on Friday.
The 2024 USATF U20 champion in the decathlon made his mark on the collegiate ranks immediately, capping off a historic freshman season with a seventh-place finish and First Team All-American honors in the men's heptathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Byrd also became the first freshman in ACC history to win the conference title in the men's heptathlon, recording a personal-best and program-record point total of 5,903 points at the ACC Indoor Championships.
Along with his program record in the heptathlon, Byrd also leapt into the top 10 in program history in a pair of individual events, moving to third in program history in the pole vault with a personal-best clearance of 5.27m (17-3.5) at the NCAA Indoor Championships while also moving into a tie for fifth in school history in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.18 at the ACC Indoor Championships.
During the regular season, Byrd earned ACC Men's Freshman of the Week honors on Jan. 21 after making his collegiate debut at the Bellarmine Open. The native of Connelly Springs, N.C. was also named both ACC Men's Field Performer of the Week and ACC Men's Freshman of the Week on Feb. 4 after completing his first collegiate heptathlon at the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational.
The Cards have now earned ACC Men's Indoor Freshman of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons as Byrd joins sophomore Cade DeWitt, who was named Men's Indoor Freshman of the Year for the conference at the conclusion of the 2023-24 indoor season, as the only two men in program history to earn the honor.
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.
The 2024 USATF U20 champion in the decathlon made his mark on the collegiate ranks immediately, capping off a historic freshman season with a seventh-place finish and First Team All-American honors in the men's heptathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Byrd also became the first freshman in ACC history to win the conference title in the men's heptathlon, recording a personal-best and program-record point total of 5,903 points at the ACC Indoor Championships.
Along with his program record in the heptathlon, Byrd also leapt into the top 10 in program history in a pair of individual events, moving to third in program history in the pole vault with a personal-best clearance of 5.27m (17-3.5) at the NCAA Indoor Championships while also moving into a tie for fifth in school history in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.18 at the ACC Indoor Championships.
During the regular season, Byrd earned ACC Men's Freshman of the Week honors on Jan. 21 after making his collegiate debut at the Bellarmine Open. The native of Connelly Springs, N.C. was also named both ACC Men's Field Performer of the Week and ACC Men's Freshman of the Week on Feb. 4 after completing his first collegiate heptathlon at the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational.
The Cards have now earned ACC Men's Indoor Freshman of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons as Byrd joins sophomore Cade DeWitt, who was named Men's Indoor Freshman of the Year for the conference at the conclusion of the 2023-24 indoor season, as the only two men in program history to earn the honor.
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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