Track & Field Teams Compete at Florida

Feb. 6, 2000

GAINESVILLE, FL – The Clemson men’s and women’s track and field teams competed in the Gator Invitational in Gainesville, FL, on Sunday. Nine men’s teams competed at the meet, including five schools ranked among the top 11 in the country. Thirteen women’s teams competed, including #1 Louisiana State.

Junior Sultan Tucker led the men’s team, placing first in the 55m hurdles with an NCAA Automatic Qualifying time of 7.21. With the time, Tucker is tied for fourth on the Clemson all-time list and ranks third nationally this season. Senior Charles Allen recorded a provisional time of 7.36 in the event to place third and ranks 16th nationally.

Senior Shawn Crawford finished second in the 200m with an automatic qualifying time of 20.91, the second fastest time in the nation this year, and the Tigers’ 4x400m relay team of Allen, Otto Spain, Crawford and Ato Modibo placed third at 3:10.01, the third-fastest time in the nation this season.

Spain placed third in the 400m, recording a time of 47.51, and freshman Fred Sharpe was sixth in the 800m at 1:53.03. In the 3,000m, senior Steve Alexander finished third with a time of 8:29.54, and freshman Scott Shaw was seventh at 8:39.96.

In the field events, sophomore Doug Ameigh placed fourth with a mark of 6’10 3/4″ in the high jump, his best mark of the season. Sophomore Ryan Lewis finished second at 16’2 3/4″ in the pole vault, and sophomore Kai Maull was fourth with a mark of 24’1 1/2″ in the long jump. Senior Bryan Williams finished fourth with a mark of 50’5 1/4″ in the triple jump, a season-best mark for the Tigers.

For the women’s team, junior LaShonda Cutchin placed fifth in the 400m with a time of 55.20, and freshman Marcia Smith was seventh in the event with a time of 55.92. Sophomore Keke Elder placed sixth with a time of 7.93 in the 55m hurdles.

Junior Shannon Schoppman finished seventh in the mile run, turning in a season-best time of 5:00.96, and the Clemson distance medley relay team was fourth with a time of 12:11.78.

Freshman pole vaulter Joana Coast finished third with a mark of 11’7″, while sophomore Sheri Smith was 11th in the triple jump with a mark of 39′ 1/2″.

The Clemson men’s team will compete against Arkansas, Georgetown, South Carolina, Stanford, Texas, TCU and UCLA in Fayetteville, AR, this weekend. The teams will be preparing for the NCAA Championships, which will be held in Fayetteville March 10-11.

The Tiger women’s team will compete at Clemson’s Littlejohn Coliseum on Sunday. Running events begin at noon.