Spyridon Jullien Wins Virginia Tech\'s First NCAA Championship

Jullien earns fourth All-American honor with his win

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Spyridon Jullien, a thrower on the Virginia Tech men\'s track & field team, won the schools first national championship today at the 2005 NCAA indoor championships held at Arkansas. He is also the first NCAA champion for the Hokie track & field program.

Jullien, the USTCA Indoor Southeast Region Men\'s Athlete of the Year, capped off an amazing indoor season today by winning the men\'s 35 lb. weight throw NCAA title with his throw of 76\'0.75\" (23.18m), which was close to four feet farther than his competitors, at his third NCAA indoor championships. With his win, Jullien earned 10 points for the men\'s team and his fourth All-American honor.

\"Spyridon did a great job coming into the competition as the favorite and working hard to win,\" stated fourth-year Hokie Head Coach Dave Cianelli. \"Spyridon and Greg Jack, Tech\'s associate head men\'s track & field coach, deserve the credit for today\'s accomplishment. Spyridon has set personal, school, conference and facility records in the weight throw all season long along under the expert direction and guidance of Coach Jack.\"

Jullien (Jr., Athens, Greece) is a four-time All-American, four-time BIG EAST champion, 2005 Atlantic Coast Conference weight throw champion and meet record holder, school record holder in two events and weight throw record holder at Virginia Tech, Clemson and North Carolina\'s track & field facilities.

Cianelli concluded, \"This is an awesome achievement for our school\'s program, Spyridon and Coach Greg Jack. Our program looks forward to producing more track & field NCAA champions in the future.\"

Cory Martin (Auburn) finished in second place with his mark of 72\'8.50\" (22.16m). Garland Porter (Tennessee) threw 72\'5.75\" (22.09m) for a third place showing. Candon Powell (Arkansas State) took fourth place with 72\'3.75\" (22.04m) and Karim Chester (Northern Arizona) was fifth with 69\'11\" (21.31m).