Romero named ACC Men’s Freshman of the Year

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia freshman thrower Claudio Romero has been named the ACC Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year. The honor was announced as part of the ACC’s individual award winners for the 2021 outdoor season. The awards are voted on by the ACC head track and field coaches.

A first-team All-American after placing third (61.36 meters / 201’ 4”) at the NCAA Championships, Romero (Santiago, Chile) was previously announced as the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Men’s Field Athlete of the Year for its Southeast Region.

After setting Virginia men’s discus school records and placing among the national leaders throughout the regular season, Romero delivered the performance of his young career in the NCAA East Regional, as he hit a throw of 65.78m (215-10) that broke a 25-year-old ACC record. Romero had earlier won the discus title at the ACC Outdoor Championships with a throw 61.21m (200-10).

Romero also competed in the shot put where his season-best mark of 18.47 meters (60’ 7.25”) ranks No. 5 on the UVA all-time performance list. He finished sixth in the ACC shot put competition to earn second-team All-ACC honors in that event.

Three times this season he was named the ACC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week. This year he was the recipient of the team’s Coach’s Award for Excellence.