Mariana Pestana and Chiara Sistermann qualified for the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, during the second day of the NCAA East First Round at the Kentucky Track and Field Complex, according to a May 28 announcement.
Pestana secured her spot at nationals with a third-place finish in the hammer throw, recording a mark of 65.96 meters (216 feet, 5 inches). Earlier in the postseason, she earned silver at the ACC Championships with a personal-best throw of 66.98 meters (219 feet, 9 inches), moving to No. 2 all-time in Virginia Tech program history and earning First Team All-ACC honors. This marks Pestana’s second career appearance on the national stage.
In the previous outdoor season, Pestana was named Second Team All-America after throwing an American collegiate personal best of 66.41 meters (217 feet, 10 inches) at nationals—ranking fourth all-time for Virginia Tech—and claimed bronze at ACCs with a throw of 66.14 meters (217 feet). She surpassed 62 meters in all seven appearances during that season.
Sistermann earned her third consecutive trip to nationals in pole vault by clearing 4.27 meters (14 feet) for second place regionally. She previously placed third at this year’s ACC Championships with a clearance of 4.33 meters (14 feet, 2½ inches), earning six team points and her sixth career All-ACC honor. Earlier this year, she made her first appearance at NCAA Indoor Championships and earned her third career All-America honor by clearing 4.26 meters (13 feet, 11¾ inches).
Lila Waters also set a personal best in the women’s 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:13.62—seventh fastest all-time for Virginia Tech—and advanced to Saturday’s quarterfinals.
The Virginia Tech men are scheduled to return Friday for day three of competition as Yekini Bowen competes in discus before live coverage begins on ESPN+.
