Wake Forest senior Jessie Merckle, a Hickory native and Fort Cherry graduate, won her third Atlantic Coast Conference javelin title Saturday at the ACC Track & Field Championships in Tallahassee, Fla.

Merckle had to win by coming from behind. Her fifth of six throws went 178-6 to defeat runner-up Eva Vivod of Virginia Tech by almost seven feet. Vivod led Merckle by seven inches after four throws.

A two-time All-American and the Wake Forest record holder, Merckle won the ACC title in both her freshman and sophomore years. She finished second as a junior.