Sept. 17, 2002
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Eight former Georgia Tech outdoor track and field standouts, including Olympic gold medalists Derrick Adkins, Antonio McKay, Derek Mills and Angelo Taylor, were named to the Atlantic Coast Conference’s 50th Anniversary Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Team Tuesday. The league office announced the 50-member squad as a part of its golden anniversary celebration.
Tech’s eight honorees tied for the second most selections with Maryland and North Carolina. Clemson led the way with nine members.
The Yellow Jackets on the 50th anniversary team are:
DERRICK ADKINS, 1989-92
The 1996 Olympic gold medalist in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles, Adkins was a four-time All-American and a four-time ACC champion in that event. Adkins was a six-time all-conference selection and was named the ACC outdoor MVP in 1991. He has also competed in multiple world championships and the 1998 Goodwill Games.
DAVID KRUMMENACKER, 1994, ’96-98
Currently one of the world’s top middle distance runners, Krummenacker earned All-America accolades three times in the 800 meters and once as a member of Tech’s 4×400 relay. He was an eight-time ACC champion, claiming titles in the 800 and 1500 meters from 1996-98. Krummenacker was named MVP of the ACC outdoor meet in ’97 and ’98.
ANTONIO MCKAY, 1984-85
A one-time world record holder in the indoor 400 meters, McKay was the NCAA outdoor champion in the 400 meters in 1984. He was also a three-time Olympic medalist, including a pair of golds as a member of the U.S. 4×400 relay in ’84 and ’88.
DEREK MILLS, 1991-94
Mills won an Olympic gold medal as a member of the United States’ 4×400 relay at the 1996 Atlanta games. He was a three-time national champion, including the winner of the 400 meters in 1994 (45.06). Mills was also a seven-time All-American, five-time ACC champion and a six-time All-ACC choice. He set the ACC Championship record in the 400 in 1994 (45.38).
CONRAD NICHOLS, 1992-95
A five-time outdoor All-American, Nichols was a member of Tech’s 1994 national champion 4×400 meter relay. He earned All-America honors with a third place finish in the 800 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 1993 and followed that up with a fifth-place finish in ’94. He was a three-time ACC champion, including back-to-back 800-meter titles in ’93 and ’94.
JAMES PURVIS, 1985-88
Purvis was the 1988 NCAA outdoor champion in the 110-meter hurdles. He was a three-time All-American in that event, earning honors from 1986-88. He captured ACC titles in the 110-meter and 400-meter hurdles each year over this same span. In all, he claimed seven conference crowns. He earned the league’s outdoor Most Valuable Performer award in ’86.
ANGELO TAYLOR, 1997-98
A double-gold medalist at the 2000 Olympic games, Taylor claimed NCAA titles in the 400-meter hurdles, as well as the 4×400 relay in 1998. He captured ACC titles in these events in 1997 and ’98 and earned all-conference honors four times. Taylor’s medals came in the 400-meter hurdles and 4×400 relay.
OCTAVIUS TERRY, 1992, ’94-96
Terry was a three-time outdoor national champion, claiming 4×400 relay titles in 1992 and ’94, as well as the ’94 400-meter hurdles crown. He was also a six-time All-American, posting top-three finishes in the 400-meter hurdles in ’92, ’94 and ’95. Terry was a three-time ACC champion and five-time all-conference honoree. He also finished second in the 400-meter hurdles at the ’95 World University Games.
Each Georgia Tech member of the outdoor team was also selected to the league’s indoor squad, which was also announced Tuesday.
Fiftieth Anniversary Teams will be selected in all of the conference’s sports by the league’s head coaches and a top 50 overall men’s and women’s list will be chosen by a Blue Ribbon Committee of media, coaches, administrators and veteran observers of the Conference.
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