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PREDICTIONS: 2024 ACC Outdoor Championships

  • Writer: Admin (Garrett Zatlin)
    Admin (Garrett Zatlin)
  • May 8, 2024
  • 5 min read

The ACC could be argued as the deepest distance running conference in the entire NCAA, especially with the introduction of Stanford happening in the fall. As such, the ACC Outdoor Championships will give east coast fans plenty of exciting races to watch and important results to monitor. Here's how we see this conference meet unfolding...

*Denotes that a collegian is also entered in another individual event. In these predictions, TSR is assuming that each runner is contesting an event fresh (i.e. not doubling back).


Men’s 800 Meters

  1. Nick Plant (Virginia Tech) - 1:46

  2. Tarees Rhoden (Clemson) - 1:46

  3. Rynard Swanepoel (Wake Forest) - 1:46

  4. Jack Balick (Wake Forest) - 1:47

  5. Zach Hughes (NC State)* - 1:48


Analysis: In my opinion, Nick Plant is the most complete half-miler in this field. He has championship experience (and success), a nationally competitive PR, effective middle distance range, strong consistency, excellent poise and a good understanding of tactics...what's not to like?


Tarees Rhoden is arguably just as talented, but his championship tactics over the years have led to mixed results. Rynard Swanepoel is the only guy in this field who has run under 1:46 (800) this season, but this weekend will be a great chance for him to validate that huge breakout result.


Women’s 800 Meters

  1. Lindsey Butler (Virginia Tech) - 2:01

  2. Gladys Chepngetich (Clemson)* - 2:02

  3. Star Price (Virginia Tech) - 2:03

  4. Makayla Paige (North Carolina) - 2:03

  5. Esther Seeland (Virginia) - 2:03


Analysis: Lindsey Butler is certainly favored to win this race given her history of dominance at this meet and her recent success. That said, Gladys Chepngetich (Clemson) and Makayla Paige (North Carolina) have both run faster this season and teammate Star Price has been closing the gap between her and Butler. Regardless, I'll take the long-time veteran who (usually) peaks beautifully for this meet every year.


Men’s 1500 Meters

  1. Ethan Strand (North Carolina)* - 3:39

  2. Gary Martin (Virginia)* - 3:39

  3. Wes Porter (Virginia)* - 3:41

  4. Steven Jackson (Boston College) - 3:41

  5. Daelen Ackley (Notre Dame)* - 3:42


Analysis: I would not at all disagree with anyone who wanted to pick Gary Martin for the win. In my eyes, both him and Ethan Strand have an equal shot at winning gold. Strand is slightly more accomplished than his UVA counterpart at the mile/1500-meter distances by the narrowest of margins, but this is still a coin-toss race.


I like the experience of Wes Porter and I feel like he's due for a top finish while Steven Jackson hasn't done anything to lower his stock since the winter. As for Daelen Ackley, he's a touch underrated and has consistently been a threat over this distance.


Women’s 1500 Meters

  1. Margot Appleton (Virginia)* - 4:11

  2. Sam Bush (NC State)* - 4:11

  3. Molly Hudson (Boston College)* - 4:13

  4. Grace Hartman (NC State)* - 4:13

  5. Suus Altorf (Florida State) - 4:15


Analysis: It's probably best not to go against Margot Appleton in these predictions, a woman who has a 4:29 mile PR and has developed a reputation for peaking in the postseason. Even so, Sam Bush is beginning to build a lot of positive momentum and as long as the pace doesn't get away from her, I could see her winning gold. The rest of the field could break up those two women, but when it comes to contenders for gold, Appleton and Bush seem like the best options.


Men’s 5000 Meters

  1. Parker Wolfe (North Carolina)* - 13:25

  2. Alex Phillip (North Carolina)* - 13:33

  3. Will Anthony (Virginia)* - 13:36

  4. Perry Mackinnon (Syracuse) - 13:37

  5. Gary Martin (Virginia)* - 13:42


Analysis: It should be no surprise that we have Parker Wolfe winning. And when it comes to Alex Phillip, he is simply the next-most accomplished runner in this field. For that reason, we have him getting silver, although Will Anthony has been really strong this season as well. But considering that the UNC men will likely work together, it would take a herculean effort to break up that Tar Heel duo.


Women’s 5000 Meters

  1. Olivia Markezich (Notre Dame) - 15:32

  2. Amaris Tyynismaa (NC State)* - 15:35

  3. Margot Appleton (Virginia)* - 15:37

  4. Grace Hartman (NC State)* - 15:40

  5. Kelsey Chmiel (NC State) - 15:47


Analysis: With Olivia Markezich eschewing the steeplechase to be fresh for the 5000 meters, it's hard to imagine she'll lose on fresh legs. That's especially true given that Amaris Tyynismaa, Margot Appleton and Grace Hartman will all be doubling back from the 1500-meter finals (assuming they qualify).


Men’s 10,000 Meters

  1. Parker Wolfe (North Carolina)* - 28:22

  2. Alex Phillip (North Carolina)* - 28:36

  3. Paul O'Donnell (Syracuse)* - 28:44

  4. Will Anthony (Virginia)* - 28:46

  5. Colton Sands (North Carolina)* - 28:57


Analysis: It doesn't matter that Parker Wolfe hasn't run a 10k on the track before. He's simply way too fit for anyone else in this field to beat him -- and that's saying something given that Alex Phillip has run under 28:00 (10k) this spring. Paul O'Donnell continues to be overlooked over the 10k distance despite his historical success, Will Anthony is a reliable pick and Colton Sands has been great in the two races that he has contested this spring.


Women’s 10,000 Meters

  1. Amaris Tyynismaa (NC State)* - 32:49

  2. Erin Strzelecki (Notre Dame)* - 32:58

  3. Savannah Roark (Syracuse)* - 33:12

  4. Winnie Incorvaia (Pittsburgh)* - 33:33

  5. Caroline Garrett (Wake Forest) - 33:41


Analysis: After running 15:40 (5k) less than a month ago, Amaris Tyynismaa's fitness is seemingly nearing it's prior peak form. The NC State talent is definitely a better 5k runner than she is a 10k runner, but she should still be able to fend off Notre Dame's Erin Strzelecki who has been excellent at the ACC Championships over her last few years with the Irish.


Men’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase

  1. Nathan Mountain (Virginia)* - 8:28

  2. CJ Singleton (Notre Dame)* - 8:31

  3. Brett Gardner (NC State)* - 8:33

  4. Yasin Sado (Virginia)* - 8:34

  5. Michael Keehan (Duke) - 8:37


Analysis: This is a very, very good field. And yet, Nathan Mountain is far and away the best steeplechaser in this field. He's the defending ACC steeple champion, ran 8:20 earlier this spring and was a 4th place All-American in this event last year. I don't see him losing.


Notre Dame sophomore CJ Singleton has been incredible this spring and despite his relative youth, I don't think it's going to matter. That's saying a lot considering that Brett Gardner, Yasin Sado and Michael Keehan have all proven (to varying extents) that they could be steeplechase All-Americans on the right day.


Women’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase

  1. Sophie Novak (Notre Dame) - 9:49

  2. Emma Tavella (Boston College) - 9:49

  3. Helena Lindsay (Georgia Tech)* - 9:59

  4. Angelina Napoleon (NC State) - 10:03

  5. Emily Cole (Duke) - 10:08


Analysis: Sophie Novak peaked at the ACC Outdoor Championships last year en route to a 9:48 (steeple) PR. But this year, she's been even better in the her lead up to this meet. In theory, that experience and recent momentum should be enough to give her the win...right?


However, Emma Tavella could absolutely win this race. She has run three personal bests in her last four races and the one race where she didn't PR was a 9:53 steeplechase mark that was less than one second off of her personal best.

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