Clemson Closes With Strong Finish At Coastal

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – With the outdoor season in full swing, Clemson showed it is a deeper team than it was during indoor competition. Brianna Blanton and Brianna Feerst will bolster the women’s mid-distance/distance events while Justin Johnson and Deron Gordon will be key contributors in the men’s hurdles. The women took second place and the men took third in a field of 17 teams in the Coast Carolina Invitational finale.

Seniors, Blanton and Feerst kicked off the afternoon in the mile as they finished second and fifth respectively. Blanton crossed the finish line with a personal best 4:51.20, while Feerst turned in a time of 5:04.07. They’ll strengthen an already deep mid-distance/distance group featuring Kaley Ciluffo who ran a 2:09.56 in the 800 meter run to take second place. In the men’s mile, Chris Cummings ran a personal best 4:27.98.

Johnson ran the fourth fastest 110 meter hurdle time with a 14.33 and Gordon took fifth in the 400 meter hurdles at 52.50. In the women’s hurdles Markeeta Thomas led Tori Robinson as they crossed the finish line at 59.49 and 1:01.47 to place fourth and sixth overall. Robinson’s time was a personal best. Short-sprinter, Taylor Williams took second place in the 100 meter dash with an 11.87.

Clemson saw a pair of personal bests in the 400 meter dash as well as Tanisha Coppin ran a 54.19 to take third and Dareyus Person completed the men’s race in 49.18. Coppin finished just behind Olivia James as her 54.07 placed her second in the event. Cordell Lamb took fifth with a 47.77 in the men’s 400 meter dash.

James and Coppin came back to run the 4×400 meter relay with Malayshia George and Ersula Farrow to take third place with a time of 3:38.79. Lamb, Jorel Bellafonte, John Lewis and Gordon all contributed to the second place time of 3:09.93 in the men’s 4×400 meter relay.

Tevin Quick highlighted Clemson’s effort in the field, setting a height of 6-8.75 in the unseeded high jump to take first and record a personal best. Harrison Hix placed third with mark of 15-7 in the pole vault and Ishmael Kamara took sixth in the triple jump with a leap distancing 48-6.25.

Next week, the Tigers will head to Atlanta, Georgia for the Georgia Tech Invitational. The meet is slated for March 25 and 26.