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DURHAM, N.C. -
Kristen Batts made the most of her final throw of the women's discus competition Thursday, capturing the individual championship to become the first winner of the Atlantic Coast Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships being hosted by Duke University.
Batts, a Terrapin senior, had a mark of 160 feet, 11 inches to win the competition. It was Maryland's first individual win on the women's side since 2007 when Toni Aluko won the high jump during the last time the Terps' hosted the league championships. It was Maryland's first win in the women's discus since Marita Walton won the event in 1983.
Batts was in sixth place after the fourth round, but moved up to second with a mark of 158-4 in the fifth round. Trailing Duke's Erica Brand, who went 160-0 in the fifth round, Batts uncorked her winning throw on her final attempt.
The 10 team points earned by Batts put Maryland in a tie for fifth place after the first day of the three-day meet. The host Blue Devils led the women's team standings with 31 points, with Clemson in second at 21 and Virginia in third with 15.
Duke also led the men's team standings with 34 points after three events were completed on Thursday. NC State was second with 23 points and Florida State was third at 19.
Also for Maryland on Thursday, sophomore Jon Hill placed ninth in the men's javelin at 183-9, missing a scoring position by just three inches. Senior Dan McDevitt placed 15th in the men's 10,000-meter run at 31:01.53.
For the women, Tara Miluszewski placed 11th in the javelin at 125-8, with Alex Georgiou in 13th and Kristi Person placing 14th. Jessie Echard was 13th in the women's discus.
The competition continues through Saturday.
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