GREENSBORO, N.C. – Virginia Tech junior Alexander Ziegler (Dischingen, Germany) has been named the 2012 Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Outdoor Field Performer of the Year, the league announced Friday. It marks the second time Ziegler has won the award, as he also earned the honor in 2010.
Ziegler won his second straight NCAA title in the hammer throw with a personal best mark of 248-7 (75.78m) at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship in Des Moines, Iowa last week. His winning mark at the NCAA Meet made him the No. 8 collegian all-time in the event.
A six-time All-American, Ziegler won Tech’s 12th overall individual national title, all of which have come in track & field. He joined former Hokie throwing great and four-time NCAA champion Spyridon Jullien (2005-2006 weight throw and hammer throw) as the only athletes in Tech track & field history to win back-to-back NCAA titles.
During the season, Ziegler won his first ACC title in the hammer throw with a mark of 229-11 (70.09m). In addition, he was named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Southeast Region Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year and was also named a Capital One Academic All-District student-athlete.
Other ACC award winners for the outdoor season included: Clemson’s Marlena Wesh (Women’s Track Performer of the Year), Clemson’s April Sinkler (Women’s Field Performer of the Year), Florida State’s Maurice Mitchell (Men’s Track Performer of the Year), Clemson’s Dezerea Bryant (Women’s Freshman of the Year) and Florida State’s Stephen Newbold (Men’s Freshman of the Year).
The ACC performers of the year were selected by a vote of the league’s head coaches.
For updates on Virginia Tech track & field, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Track).