Johnson Wins Gold, Smith & Mitchell Claim Bronze on Day One of ACC Indoor Championships

BOSTON, Mass.  – Graduate student Christian Johnson and seniors Moorea Mitchell and Brianna Smith headlined a solid day of competition for Duke track and field at the ACC Indoor Championships on Thursday as Johnson claimed the gold medal in the men’s weight throw while Mitchell and Smith garnered bronze in the women’s weight throw and pentathlon, respectively – all three individuals garnering All-ACC First Team honors for their efforts.
 
Aimar Palma Simo also earned all-conference recognition for his performance in the weight throw while three Blue Devils – Halle Bieber, Tina Martin and Ezra Mellinger – secured their spots in the finals of their respective events.
 
TOP PERFORMANCES

• Christian Johnson continued his stellar season in the men’s weight throw with another outstanding performance to earn ACC gold.
• Johnson delivered his best throw on the third attempt, with the graduate student parlaying a toss of 21.73m (71-3.50 feet) into a first-place finish.
• Moorea Mitchell had a career day in the women’s weight throw, using that performance to power herself to the bronze medal.
• Mitchell started off with a bang notching her furthest throw on her opening attempt, with the mark checking in at 20.81m (68-3.25 feet). The throw was good for third among the field and surpassed her previous best by a foot.
• Brianna Smith turned in a season-best performance in the women’s pentathlon to collect the bronze medal as she totaled 4,132 points en route to a third-place finish.
• Smith’s best performance came in the pentathlon high jump as she took first behind a season’s best leap of 1.79m (5-10.50 feet). She also produced strong showings in the pentathlon 60m hurdles (8.74) and shot put (12.35m (40-6.25 feet)), finishing third in both events via season and personal-best performances, respectively.
• Also competing in the weight throw, Aimar Palma Simo earned a nod to the All-ACC Second Team as the graduate student came through with his clutchest throw of 21.06m (69-1.75 feet) on his fifth attempt – a mark ranking fifth among the competition field.
• The 200m prelims saw three Blue Devil athletes in Halle Bieber, Tina Martin and Ezra Mellinger punch their tickets to Saturday’s final.
• Mellinger delivered the fastest dash of his career and lowered his own school record clocking 21.14 seconds while…