Clemson Cruises Through Orange & Purple Classic

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Tigers fired on all cylinders in the season opening Orange & Purple Classic. Together, Clemson finished with 24 finishes in the top three and 42 top-eight finishes.

Sabria Hadley turned in the performance of the day with a personal best 7.43 in the 60 meter dash. The time places her 10^th all-time in Clemson history and was good enough for a second place finish. She was closely followed by Taylor Williams, who also turned in a personal best time of 7.54 for a third place effort.

Quanterious Caldwell highlighted the men’s effort in his collegiate debut with a first place performance in the high jump, thanks to a mark of 6-10.75.

Together, the men combined for five top-six efforts. Harrison Hix kick started the day with a meet-best 15-1 mark in the pole vault. He was soon followed by Jordan Pickerel’s personal best 56-10.25 toss in the weight throw, placing him first in the event and No. 10 in Clemson’s record books. Joe Cline wasn’t far behind, throwing a distance of 49-10.75 to place second. He later threw 49-6.75 in the shot put for another second place effort.

On the track, Tevin Hester set the tone in the 60 meter dash, clocking in at 6.63 to win the meet. Cordell Lamb also thrived in the 400 meter dash, finishing first with a time of 49.98. Placing third with a time of 50.15 was Jorel Bellafonte.

The men swept the top four spots in the mile as James Quattlebaum (4:14.09), Roland Hakes (4:15.03), James Dwyer (4:16.15) and Aaron Gambrell (4:18.46) finished in that order all within four seconds of each other.

The harriers struck again in the distance medley relay as Quattlebaum and Gambrell teamed up with Clayton Wilson and Justin Lippert for a time of 10:35.24 to win the event. Dwyer and Hakes paired with Cameron Thornton and Chris Cummings for their second place performance, crossing the finish line at 10:44.74.

Like the men, the women placed four milers in the top eight with Grace Barnett leading the way at 4:53.75. Katie Fortner (5:09.45) turned in a personal best for third place while Catherine Herring (5:10.66) and Madison Huffman (5:10.82) rounded out the top five.

Barnett earned her second first place effort of the day in the 800 meter run, clocking in at 2:15.14. Dana Maydew (2:18.22) and Fortner (2:21.06) were right behind Barnett, as they finished third and fourth respectively.

Clemson’s distance medley relay team consisting of Evie Tate, Imani McGowan, Katie Moses and Elizabeth Dawson earned themselves first place with a time of 12:54.21.

Three of Clemson’s sprinters set themselves apart from the rest as Ebony Williams, Tanisha Coppin and Ersula Farrow each placed in the top three of their respective events. Coppin and Farrow crossed the finish line at 56.83 and 57.34 for second and third place efforts while Williams finished third in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.73.

The three came back to contribute in the 4×400 meter relay as well, as Coppin and Farrow assisted Deja Parrish and Olivia James to a 3:52.65 finish to win the event. Williams joined Torie Robinson, Sabria Hadley and Maydew for a second place performance with a time of 3:55.94.

In the field, Sam Beyar began the meet with a second place effort in the pole vault with a jump measuring 11-3.75. Danielle Borriello finished fifth in the weight throw with a distance of 49-1.75.

Clemson’s next test awaits in Blacksburg, Va., as the Tigers will compete in the Virginia Tech Invitational on January 15 and 16.