Elliott Releases Clemson’s 2013-14 Track & Field Schedule

CLEMSON, SC – Head Coach Mark Elliott released Clemson’s 2013-14 indoor and outdoor track & field schedule on Friday.  For the first time since 2007, Clemson will play host to the ACC Indoor Championships.  That event will be one of three home meets for the Tiger program in 2014. An additional highlight to the schedule will be that the 2014 NCAA Indoor Championships will be held in Albuquerque, NM for the first time in history.  “It’s exciting to show off our facility,” said Elliott of the ACC meet scheduled from February 27 through March 1 in Clemson.  “It makes the first two home meets imperative for the entire team to compete.  Those are two crucial meets for us, as we prepare for one of the most important events on our schedule, the ACC Indoor Championships.” Clemson will begin the season at home for the Orange & Purple Classic on Jan. 11, while also holding a home meet on the weekend of Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at the school’s indoor facility.  Other indoor meets on the schedule are the Auburn Invitational (Jan. 18), New Mexico’s Cherry & Silver Collegiate Invitational (Jan. 25-26), Armory Collegiate Invitational (Feb. 7-8) and Texas A&M Invitational (Feb. 14-15). The New Mexico meet will be used in preparation of the indoor nationals, scheduled for Mar. 14-15. “New Mexico has a banked 200-meter track,” Elliott said. “Since it’s in an altitude situation, it’s more conducive to sprints and shorter distances.  You will see very good marks and fast times from that track.  I have some familiarity with it from my time at LSU, and Albuquerque is a nice city to visit.” The outdoor season will open with the 49er Invitational in Charlotte, NC on March 21-22.  The following week, the Tigers will send split squads to the Texas Relays and Raleigh Relays.  The final meet prior to the ACC Outdoor Championships will be the Florida Relays, April 4-5 in Gainesville.  The conference championship meet will take place April 17-19 in Chapel Hill, NC. “I’m not accustomed to the conference championship being so early,” Elliott said.  “We have to get the kids ready to compete at a high level.  It dictates our outdoor schedule. It’s difficult to attract some of the bigger schools to come to a home meet in May, when most conferences are holding their championships.” Clemson will not hold a home outdoor meet in 2014, but will travel to the Penn Relays (Apr. 24-26), Seminole Twilight (May 9-10) and Georgia Tech Invitational (May 16-17) following the ACC Outdoor Championships.  The NCAA East Prelims will be held May 29-31 in Jacksonville, FL, with the outdoor nationals set for June 11-14 in Eugene, OR.