Virginia hosts the two-day ACC track and field championships starting today, and the Cavaliers hope to make an impressive showing in front of a home crowd at Lannigan Field.
Clemson has been dominant in the ACC in recent history, especially on the men's side, and will look to once again win the ACC championship. The Tigers won the ACC men's outdoor championships in 2000 and again last year, and won the past six indoor ACC championships.
North Carolina will try to defend its 2001 women's ACC title, while Georgia Tech will try to translate its 2002 indoor ACC championship to the outdoor venue.
"If we come out and do what we can do, and perform how we're supposed to perform, I have no doubt in my mind that we can beat Clemson, or any other team," junior sprinter Jason Young said.
Even if winning the ACC championships is a bit of a stretch for this Virginia squad, a large number of personal and school records are within reach for the Cavaliers.
The men's 4x100-meter relay team is two-tenths of a second away from setting a new school record. After running a 40.88 second time at the Duke Invitational, the Cavaliers' 4x100 team ran a 4.48 time last weekend at the Lou Onesty/Milton G. Abramson Invitational.
In the field events, senior John Welch is in the best shape he has been in since the arm injury that sidelined him for his sophomore season. Welch said he would be disappointed if he doesn't break all the throwing records the school has to offer.
"I've put the word out there," Welch said. "Now I just have to go and back it up."
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Also in the field, Virginia's Eliese Mitchell has consistently been the top finisher in the throwing events, and Inhar Chong is coming off personal records in last week's discus and hammer throws.
Virginia junior Kiamesha Otey has been lighting up the field and the track, as she earned All-American honors for her indoor long jump, and is coming off an 11.90 second 100-meter run last week, .15 seconds off her best time. Otey leads the team in the women's 100 meter, 200 meter and long jump events.
Senior Jarrett Hagwood and freshman Mike Riso also are coming off impressive performances. Hagwood is Virginia's best long jumper and 110-meter high hurdler, and turned in another impressive performance last week.
Riso recently posted a personal best in the high jump of 6 feet, 9 inches. Although it doesn't seem likely he will improve by five inches to reach the Virginia record set by former football star Herman Moore, Riso is a promising young athlete who is hitting his peak just in time for the ACC championships.
Virginia also can expect a strong showing from distance runner Dawn Cleary, who is ranked eighth nationally for her 10:25.49 NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the women's 3000 meter steeplechase.
"This meet is a very important meet," Young said. "It's really important that we come out and perform at the level we're supposed to individually and as a team"
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