For the third time this season, California track & field first-year hammer thrower Valentina Savva has been named the ACC Women's Freshman of the Week, as announced by the conference Tuesday. Savva is now the first Cal woman to earn three conference weekly awards in the same season since fellow hammer specialist Camryn Rogers, who was named Pac-12 Women's Field Athlete of the Week three times in 2022.
 
Savva competed in the women's hammer elite section at the Mt. SAC Relays this past Saturday, finishing fourth behind Rogers and the top two hammer throwers in the NCAA (Lara Roberts of Texas State and Emma Ratcliffe of Oklahoma State). She improved her PR to 69.20m (227-0), bettering her own Cypriot U23 record, Cal No. 3 mark and program freshman record. Currently, Savva is the top freshman in the NCAA and ranks No. 4 in the overall standings.
 
"Valentina is an excellent thrower and works very hard in the classroom and in training," assistant coach Mohamad Saatara, who leads the throws, said. "We've taken a steady approach to this outdoor season and are building well toward the upcoming championship period."
 
ACC Athletes of the Week – April 22, 2025
Men's Track – Geoffrey Kirwa, Louisville
Women's Track – Sophia Kennedy, Stanford
Men's Field – Max Forte, Duke
Women's Field – Celia Rifaterra, Virginia
Men's Freshman – Geoffrey Kirwa, Louisville
Women's Freshman – Valentina Savva, California
 
2025 ACC Athletes of the Week – California Winners
David Foster – Men's Indoor Track (Jan. 21)
Valentina Savva – Women's Indoor Freshman (Jan. 21)
Giavonna Meeks – Women's Indoor Field (Jan. 28)
Giavonna Meeks – Women's Indoor Field (Feb. 11)
Johnny Goode – Men's Outdoor Track (March 25)
Brandon Cheeks II – Men's Outdoor Freshman (March 25)
Mykolas Alekna – Men's Outdoor Field (April 8)
Valentina Savva – Women's Outdoor Freshman (April 8)
Valentina Savva – Women's Outdoor Freshman (April 22)
 
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