Clemson Men Listed 13th by Trackwire’s Season Opening Rankings

Jan. 18, 2007

The Clemson men’s track & field team is listed as the #13 program early in the 2007 indoor season by Trackwire’s initial rankings. The Tigers have five members that rank in the “Dandy Dozen” at their respective events according to the website.

The most notable member of the “Dandy Dozen” is Travis Padgett, listed at #1 in the 60m dash. He turned heads as a freshman during the 2006 outdoor season, where he finished fourth in the 100m dash to earn All-America honors. An All-ACC performer in the 60m dash last year, Padgett has posted an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in that event already this season.

Four standout field event performers are also listed among the top 12 in their respective events. Adam Linkenauger, six-time ACC Champion in the high jump, ranks 10th on Trackwire’s list in that event. He is also a five-time NCAA participant. In the pole vault, outstanding junior Mitch Greeley is listed as the #5 student-athlete in that event. He holds Clemson’s indoor and outdoor records in the pole vault, and has posted two NCAA provisional qualifying marks so far this indoor season.

In the triple jump, senior Jason Bell ranks among the top 12. He earned his first All-America accolade last season at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Sacramento, CA. He ranks first in school history in the outdoor triple jump and third in the indoor triple jump.

Multi-event athlete Ryan Koontz also ranks among the “Dandy Dozen” in the heptathlon. A senior, Koontz earned All-America honors last season in the decathlon. He ranks second in Clemson history on the all-time heptathlon list and fourth on the decathlon list.

The Tigers continue their indoor season this weekend by playing host to the Clemson Invitational on January 19-20.