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Track & Field

Feb 22, 2021

ACC Championships Preview: Throws

As the 2021 ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships draw near, we’ll provide a preview of what to expect from each event group while also reviewing their excellent achievements during the first six meets of the season. 

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Over the years, assistant coach Shawn Cobey has cultivated a talented group of throwers for the Clemson track and field program. As the Tigers now look ahead to the 2021 ACC Indoor Championships on Feb. 25-27, it’s no surprise that Cobey’s group is well-positioned to have a successful showing at the three-day meet.

On the men’s side, Roje Stona and Zico Campbell have been historic in the men’s shot put throughout the 2021 indoor campaign. Led by Stona, Clemson’s male throwing duo currently sits at sixth and seventh, respectively, in the ACC for the shot put. The pair of redshirt sophomores are two of just 10 ACC male athletes to eclipse the 17-meter mark in the event this season, while Clemson is also the only school to have two athletes ranked within the conference’s top-8 for the event.

Stona became the No. 4 all-time shot put performer at Clemson during the Tiger Paw Invitational on Feb. 12, launching a throw of 17.94 meters (58 feet, 10 and one-quarter inches) to set a personal best by 38 centimeters. Stona’s previous best, 17.56m (57-7.5), came during the 2020 ACC Indoor Championships held at Notre Dame, where the redshirt-freshman earned second-team All-ACC honors with his then-personal best. The 2021 season is Stona’s second contesting the shot put, as the discus specialist took time away from indoor competition during the 2019 campaign to craft his talents in the event.

Campbell will enter this weekend’s conference championships with the program’s No. 5 all-time mark in the shot put. Campbell recorded a toss of 17.93m (58-10) during the Bob Pollock Invitational, making it the fifth consecutive meet which the redshirt-sophomore had recorded a personal best in the event. The impressive streak began at last season’s indoor championships, where Campbell threw 16.40m (53-9.75) to finish 11th. 

In the women’s shot put, Veronica Fraley is poised to make a run for the title after a string of quality performances during the latter part of this season. Despite opening her campaign at the Bob Pollock Invitational on Jan. 30, Fraley has set a season’s best in each of her three meets this year. At the Tiger Paw Invite, Fraley recorded a toss of 15.76m (51-8.5) which placed her second overall in the conference rankings. Only six women in the ACC have eclipsed 15 meters this season, a feat which Fraley has accomplished in each of her three meets. 

While Fraley will enter the weekend with high expectations, freshman Danielle Sloley will look to put together her finest performance of her inaugural indoor campaign when her time comes to step into the ring. Sloley has been a consistent 13-meter thrower during her first year as a Tiger, with her indoor personal best in the event coming from her toss of 13.67m (44-10.25) at the Bob Pollock Invitational. 

The quartet of throwers will enter the championships feeling fresh since Clemson did not have any of its athletes compete this past weekend in preparation for ACC’s. Campbell will return to action for the first time since the Bob Pollock Invitational, making this week’s meet his first competition in nearly a month.

For all of the most up-to-date information regarding Clemson’s Track & Field programs, be sure to reference clemsontigers.com and follow @ClemsonTrackXC on Twitter!

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