Women’s Track & Field Team Moves to No. 3 in National Ratings

May 10, 2011

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson women’s track & field team has moved to No. 3 in the national computer ratings, according to data released Tuesday by the USTFCCCA. The Tigers moved up one position in this week’s poll to reach the program’s highest rating in the tenure of Lawrence Johnson, who took over as Clemson’s director of track & field in 2008.

“We’re certainly excited to be ranked third in the nation, but we strive to be even higher at the end of the year,” Johnson said. “It’s a testament to the depth we have in this program, and the hard work the young ladies have put forth this season. Hopefully, we’ll continue to improve upon our season bests and peak as we head into the national championship portion of our schedule.”

Fifteen individuals and one relay from the Clemson women’s team are ranked among the top 20 of an event in the NCAA. April Sinkler is ranked among the top 20 nationally in three different events, while Stormy Kendrick and Marlena Wesh are among the top 20 in two events apiece.

Sinkler is second nationally in the long jump after breaking the school record in the event at the Bob Pollock Invitational last weekend with a leap of 21’6.25″. It was a personal best in the event for Sinkler, a red-shirt junior. She is also 10th in the high jump (5’11.5″) and 11th in the triple jump (42’11”). Sinkler was NCAA runner-up indoors in the triple jump.

Wesh is ranked as high as fourth in the 400m dash. She won the ACC title in the 400 – giving her an indoor/outdoor sweep in the event – with a time of 52.28. Wesh also ranks 14th in the NCAA in the 400 hurdles with a season-best of 57.49.

Kendrick is tied for 12th among national competitors in the 200m dash. She won the ACC championship in the event with a collegiate-best time of 23.09. The Gastonia, NC native is also 16th in the 100m dash, where she owns a personal best 11.23 from earlier this year at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.

Patricia Mamona is tied with Sinkler for Clemson’s highest ranking in any event. She is second in the NCAA in the triple jump, just behind rival Kimberly Williams of Florida State. Mamona jumped 46’2.75″ last weekend at Clemson to break her own school record, as well as the Rock Norman facility record.

A pair of distance runners are ranked among the nation’s top 10 in two events. Kim Ruck is fourth on the national performance list for the 10,000 meters. She had a time of 33:16.45 earlier this year at Stanford, and then went on to win the ACC crown a month later. Alyssa Kulik has come into her own and is sixth in the steeplechase, owning a school-record time of 10:05.51 from the ACC Championships.

Other athletes from Clemson’s roster ranked among the national top 10 are Brianna Rollins in the 100 hurdles and Liane Weber in the heptathlon. The NCAA indoor high hurdle champion, Rollins is tied for sixth on the performance list with a top time of 12.96 in the 100 hurdles. Weber won her second straight ACC championship in the heptathlon with a value of 5,463 points, despite being nearly one year removed from competition due to injury.

Rounding out Clemson’s top-20 event rankings are Bridgette Owens (T-11th, 13.05) and Michaylin Golladay (14th, 13.09) in the 100 hurdles, Sonni Austin (20th, 57.72) in the 400 hurdles, and the 4x400m relay (18th, 3:35.18).

Clemson’s Weekly USTFCCCA Outdoor Women’s Team RatingsDate – Rank Mar. 22 (preseason) – 6th Apr. 5 – 5th Apr. 12 – 5th Apr. 19 – 5th Apr. 26 – 4th May 3 – 4th May 10 – 3rd