Men’s Track & Field Wins Clemson Invitational

April 8, 2006

Clemson, SC – The men’s track & field team scored 220 points and won convincingly at the Clemson Invitational on Saturday. A total of 12 athletes posted regional-qualifying marks, including five from Clemson.

Ryan Koontz was 15th overall (11.50). Brent Hobbs (11.62) and Mike Feathers (12.07) also competed in that event for the Tigers. Brown won the 200m with a time of 21.38. Padgett finished fourth at 21.51, while Mills (22.19) was ninth for the Tigers.

Isaac Mullins ran a 51.56 and was 14th in that event. Brian Knapp was runner-up in the 800m with a time of 1:54.72. Also in that event, Clay Pendleton was ninth (1:57.05) and Darrian Hodges was 14th (1:58.85).

In the 1500m run, Pendleton finished second in 4:00.69. Knapp (4:01.17) was third, while Itay Magidi (4:07.44) came home fifth. Sean Reilly captured the 3000m steeplechase title after posting a time of 9:38.55, which was his season-best effort in that event. Jay Lumpkins finished second in the 5000m run after posting a time of 15:31.80.

In the 110m hurdles, Roy Cheney finished third for Clemson in a time of 14.33, while Hobbs was sixth at 14.46, Koontz eighth (14.78), and Feathers ninth (15.28). Andy Porter held off Cheney in the 400m hurdles. Porter posted a season-best time of 52.54, just missing a regional mark. Cheney finished in 52.96 seconds.

The 4x100m relay team of Cheney, Brown, Padgett, and Mills finished first in a tight race with Western Carolina. The Tigers posted a time of 40.67, just shy of a regional mark. The Tigers’ team of Mills, Cheney, Brown, and Porter was first with a time of 3:13.78, which was a season-best effort by Clemson.

Jason Bell claimed the long jump title with a mark of 23’2.5″, which was his season-best in that event. Bell followed that up with a win in the triple jump as well. His mark of 49’9.75″ was a regional-qualifying effort. In the high jump, Koontz was second after clearing 6’4.75″. Feathers finished runner-up in the shot put with a mark of 44’1.5″, while Hobbs was fourth at 41’0.5″. Koontz was eighth at 40’0.75″. Andrew Kessler third in the pole vault. Both achieved regional marks at 16’6.75″. Kenny Knox cleared 14’7.25″ to finish sixth.

In the discus, Danny Alge was runner-up with a toss of 159’8″, while Hobbs (124’7″) and Feathers (123’3″) also competed in that event. Alge also finished second in the hammer throw after posting a regional mark of 188’10”. That mark did not improve on his personal best, but it was his second regional-qualifying effort in as many tries this season. Koontz finished sixth in the javelin with a throw of 164’5″, while Hobbs was seventh (162’6″) and Feathers eighth (155’10”).

The Tigers return to action on April 15 to take part in the Solid Orange Classic at the Rock Norman Track & Field Complex.

Team Scoring 1. Clemson220 pts2. Western Carolina147 pts3. East Carolina108 pts4. VMI76 pts5. The Citadel68 pts6. Howard58 pts