Clemson Concludes Day One at NCAA Championships

June 7, 2006

Sacramento, CA – The Clemson men’s track & field team competed in four events on Wednesday at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, held on Sacramento State`s campus at the A.G. Spanos Sports Complex. Clemson junior Ryan Koontz is in ninth place in the decathlon standings halfway through the multi-event competition.

Koontz totaled 3,821 points on day one of the decathlon and set a personal best with a time of 11.45 in the 100m dash. Other highlights from his first day of competition were a clearance of 6’7″ in the high jump, third-best overall, and a 22’11.25″ leap in the long jump. Koontz also ran a 50.82 in the 400m and hurled the shot put 42’1.25″. The decathlon will conclude with the 1500m, 110m hurdles, pole vault, discus throw, and javelin throw on Thursday.

The 4x100m relay team of Roy Cheney, Corey Brown, Travis Padgett, and Cowin Mills competed in prelims and finished 11th. The team ran a season-best time of 39.67, eclipsing its previous best mark from regionals two weeks ago. Clemson will not be in Friday’s final in the 400m relay, as only eight teams advanced from Wednesday’s prelims. Padgett will run in the 100m prelims on Thursday.

Adam Linkenauger competed in the high jump prelims Wednesday as well. The junior from Fincastle, VA finished in a tie for 24th after clearing 6’10.75″. It marks the end of the injury-plagued season for the 2006 ACC outdoor champion.

In the pole vault, Clemson outdoor record-holder Mitch Greeley cleared 16’10.75″ and finished in a tie for 16th in the prelims. The sophomore from Rock Hill, SC was an indoor All-American and All-ACC performer outdoor for the Tigers.

Itay Magidi competed in the 3000m steeplechase prelims late Wednesday night. His results will be announced Thursday morning.