Feb. 21, 2017
Notre Dame, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame will host all 15 teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference for the ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships at Loftus Sports Center on February 23-25.
Notre Dame is excited to host the event as it will be the first of its kind in the program’s history. Due to the unique size of Notre Dame’s track being 320 meters in length and fast runways for the field events, Loftus Sports Center was a logical choice for the conference in order for many student-athletes to qualify for the National Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Longtime Irish assistant coach Jim Garnham is confident that his athletes will perform at a very high level this weekend and credits the sense of comfortability associated with competing on their home track.
“Allowing our athletes to compete in an environment that they are accustomed to will be such a big advantage for our team,” Garnham said. “Everyone should be more relaxed without the hassle of traveling this week. I think that this will bode well for us.”
Senior pole vaulter and returning ACC Indoor Champion Nate Richartz is looking forward to defending his title and is especially excited about having the opportunity to do so at home.
“There’s something so special about putting on an Irish uniform at home,” Richartz said. “It is really cool when my close friends and family members get to come and cheer me on. It gives me a little extra motivation to perform at the highest level. Since this is my last home meet, I would love nothing more than to win an ACC Championship for my team this weekend.”
For the seniors, this will be their last chance to compete in an Irish uniform at Notre Dame. The unique opportunity for their last meet to be the biggest home competition of their careers should help boost the Irish to many All-ACC performances.
- Competition will begin on Thursday, February 23 at 11:00 a.m. ET with the men’s weight throw and will conclude Saturday, February 25 at 3:50 p.m. ET with the men’s 4×4 relay. For a complete schedule of events, click here.
- All ACC teams will be competing, including Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.
- Live coverage of the meet is available on ACC Network Extra/WatchESPN from 3:30-7 p.m. ET on Friday and from Noon to 4 p.m. ET on Saturday.
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Hunter Holton is a junior marketing major and a member of the Notre Dame track & field team. He is currently enrolled in a public relations course at the university. He will be competing this Friday at noon ET in the men’s high jump competition at the ACC Indoor Championships at Loftus Sports Center.