2013 NCAA East Preliminary Round Notes

Clemson’s NCAA QualifiersDezerea Bryant – 100 Dash, 200 DashWarren Fraser – 100 DashTevin Hester – 100 DashReggie Lewis – 100 DashBrianna Rollins – 100 HurdlesKeni Harrison – 100 Hurdles, 400 HurdlesSpencer Adams – 110 HurdlesMarcus Maxey – 110 Hurdles Lewis, Fraser, Miller, Hester – 4×100 Relay Harrison, Rollins, Kendrick, Bryant – 4×100 RelayLauren Terstappen – Pole VaultJameel Abdul-Mateen – Long JumpMimi Land – Long Jump

NCAA East Preliminary Notes • Eleven individuals combined to earn 13 bids to the NCAA Outdoor Championships for the combined men’s and women’s program, while both 4×100 relays also advanced to the national meet in Eugene • Clemson qualified three athletes for the NCAA Championships in the men’s 100 dash, joining the 2009 team for the most in a single outdoor season • Brianna Rollins had the top time of the day in the 100 hurdles, running 12.72 with a +0.5 wind behind her back; Rollins was just three-hundredths off the meet record • Keni Harrison broke her own school record in the 400 hurdles with a time of 55.77 in the opening round; her time is fifth-best in the country this season • Harrison qualified in both hurdle events a second straight year • Dezerea Bryant qualified in both short sprints, making her 7-for-8 in two full seasons qualifying for the NCAA Championships (indoor + outdoor); the only time she missed was in the 100 last outdoor season • Bryant ran a personal best 22.88 in the 200 quarterfinal, third-best of the session and third in school history behind only Cydonie Mothersill and Kim Graham • The women’s 4×100 relay made it to the NCAA Championships for the fourth straight year, as the Tigers won the third quarterfinal in 44.30 • The men’s 4×1 earned its first bid to the NCAA Championships since 2011, advancing on time (39.92) • Warren Fraser qualified in the men’s 100 dash at the NCAA Outdoor Championships a third consecutive year • Three athletes were first-time NCAA qualifiers this weekend: Reggie Lewis (100), Jameel Abdul-Mateen (long jump) and Mimi Land (long jump) • Abdul-Mateen is the fourth men’s long jumper in school history to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, joining Kai Maull (1999), George Kitchens (2003-05) and George Fields (2007) • Lauren Terstappen qualified for the second time in three years, also giving Clemson a women’s vault representative each of the last three (Christy Gasparino qualified in 2012)

Quoteboard “I was very happy to qualify (in the 100) after coming in ranked 22nd or so in the East Region. People didn’t expect me to make it out, but I came through. I had confidence in myself; I just gave it everything I had on the track. I spoke to my old coach at Kennesaw, and he didn’t know I had that in me. I’ve come a long way from 10.6 to 10.2; I’ve dropped almost half a second. I’m grateful for everything and everyone that have helped me get this far.” – Reggie Lewis

“I’ve never felt that much pressure before in my life (having two fouls and needing a legal mark to continue). Coach (Bostwick) told me to trust my mark and run it through. That’s exactly what it did. I managed to pull through and get one good jump in. Even if I hadn’t hit my final jump of the day, I would have still qualified. But it was nice to get that last one in. My teammates expected me to go, and I expected to as well. I came in with great confidence. It’s the national meet for a reason, though; you have to earn it.” – Jameel Abdul-Mateen

“I was just trying to make it through; I wasn’t worried about my times. But I’m pretty pleased with how they turned out. I knew I was capable of that (personal best in the 200), but I had to do what my coach asked me to do. I need to be really focused in my practice sessions, that’s what it will take to get into the finals in Oregon.” – Dezerea Bryant

“I knew it was going to be close, but I had to keep fighting to the finish line to help the (4×1) team secure a better place. We made it in, so I’m happy I was able to finish the race hard. Our team is not 100 percent, but once we get to nationals, we’ll be ready to go. I’m happy we made it, to get another chance to show what we can do.” – Tevin Hester

“Coach (Tim) Hall had us out here four hours before we had to run, so by the end of our drills, I was pretty comfortable. The end of my race is always the strongest. Our drills really emphasize that. I knew I just had to get to that point, and I’d be okay.” – Marcus Maxey

“I was nervous after the 4×1 because I felt my hamstring tighten. I wanted to relax for the final and execute a technically sound race. The short turnaround wasn’t bad, but it’s kind of cool outside and that’s when my hamstring likes to tighten up. I had to do a longer warmup than normal. But after I got over that first hurdle, I felt okay.” – Brianna Rollins