CLEMSON, S.C. -- The closest and arguably most exciting race of the day took place in the 60-meter dash, where two of the nation’s elite runners staged a too-close-for-the-naked-eye-to-call finish. Florida State’s Locke’s time of 6.622 edged that of Clemson’s Tevin Hester, who was clocked at 6.624. Georgia Tech’s Broderick Snoddy took the bronze at 6.77.
Miami’s Artie Burns, who entered this week’s competition tied for fifth nationally in the 60-meter hurdles, grabbed the gold on Saturday with a time of 7.74. Virginia’s Drequan Hoskey took the silver at 7.79, and Syracuse’s Donald Pollitt the bronze at 7.82.
Notre Dame placed 1-2 in the 400-meter dash with Giesting taking the gold at 46.43 and Patrick Feeney the silver at 46.54. Pitt’s Micah Murray claimed the bronze with a time of 46.87.
In the 800 meters, Georgia Tech junior Brandon Lasater used his patented strong closing kick for a first-place finish of 1:51.38, edging Virginia freshman Mike Marsella (1:51.41). Defending champion Tihut Degfae of Virginia Tech was third at 1:51.44.
Virginia Tech’s Grant Pollock took the mile run with a time of 4:09.30, just ahead of Notre Dame’s J.P. Malette at 4:09.58. North Carolina’s Isaac Preston took the bronze at 4:10.46.
Pitt’s Carvin Nkanata became the first non-Florida State sprinter since 2003 to win the 200 meters with his time of 21.25. Notre Dame’s Giesting took the silver at 21.31, and FSU’s Locke the bronze at 21.39.
In the 3,000 meters, Isaac Presson took the gold medal in 8:15.20. Notre Dame’s J.P. Malette placed second at 8:16.33, and Virginia’s Thomas Porter took the bronze at 8:18.
Florida State’s Jonathan Reid, second nationally in the triple jump, delivered his big first-place finish with a distance of 52-10¼ (16.11m). Virginia’s Aaron Worrell took the silver at 51-3¾ (15.64m), and his Cavalier teammate, Ryan Satchell, placed third at 50-10¼.
Virginia Tech continued its tradition of strong showing in the pole vault as Hokie freshman Torben Laidig took the gold medal at 17-10½ (5.45m). Virginia Tech also took the silver medal, as Chris Uhle vaulted 17-6 ½ (5.35), gaining the tie-breaker edge on Georgia Tech’s Nikita Kirillov.
Miami’s Isiah Simmons successfully defended his title in the men’s shot with a tthrow of 61-2¾ (18.66m). Duke’s Stephen Boals took second at 59-4¼, while Miami freshman Gian Ragonesi took the bronze at 57-3½ (17.56).
Pitt finished strong in the 4x400 relay, with Micha Murray, Nkanta, Desmond Palmer and Brycen Spratling leading the field at 3:10.12.Florida State
