Clemson Men Enter Final Day Of ACC Outdoor Championships In First Place

April 22, 2005

Results

TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Clemson men’s track and field team enters the final day of competition tied for first place, finishing day two of the ACC Outdoor Championships with 59 points. The Tigers claimed two event titles on Friday, as George Kitchens won the long jump and Adam Linkenauger captured the high jump. It was the second consecutive outdoor conference crown for both Tigers. Also earning All-ACC honors were Itay Magidi, who placed second in the 3000m steeplechase, and Ryan Koontz, who finished third in the decathlon. Clemson also qualified 16 student-athletes for Saturday’s finals.

Adam Linkenauger successfully defended his ACC Championship in the high jump, as he cleared a season-best 7’1″/2.16m. He joins Ed Fern (1975-76) and Victor Smalls (1985-86) as the only Tigers to win back-to-back ACC Outdoor crowns. The sophomore from Fincastle, VA, is the only Tiger in school history to win both the indoor and outdoor high jump championships in two consecutive years. Also competing in the high jump, Ryan Koontz cleared 6’6.75″/2.00m to place sixth and add an additional three points to the Tigers’ point total.

George Kitchens also successfully defended his ACC Championship, winning the long jump with a mark of 25’2.5″/7.68m. The senior from Hephzibah, GA, is the first Tiger to win two conference titles in the long jump. Jason Bell, Robert Ibeh and Mickey Sheats also competed in the long jump, but did not finish among the top-eight scorers.

In the only men’s running event final of the day, the 3000m steeplechase, Itay Magidi finished second to earn All-ACC honors. The sophomore from Yavne, Israel, crossed the finish line in 8:41.69, only five second off his personal-best performance. Sean Reilly finished 10th with a time of 9:18.04, and Ryan Fenton placed 12th in 9:19.10.

Ryan Koontz earned All-ACC honors in the decathlon, finishing third with a provisional qualifying total of 7,012 points. The sophomore from Statesboro, GA, opened the final day of the decathlon with a time of 14.88 in the 110m hurdles. He posted a mark of 116’1″ in the discus throw and cleared 14’3.25″ in the pole vault. In the javelin throw, he recorded a mark of 149’8″, then finished the meet with a winning time of 4:38.29 in the 1500m run.

Three Tigers advanced to Saturday’s finals in the 100m dash. George Kitchens crossed the finish line in a season-best 10.50 to post the third-fastest time of the preliminaries, and Robert Ibeh was the third qualifier with his season-best time of 10.66.

Robert Ibeh qualified for the finals of the 200m dash. Richards was the third-fastest qualifier with his time of 21.10, while Ibeh clocked a 21.69 to advance.

Michael Bolling advanced to the finals of the 400m dash with his time of 47.84. The senior from Willingboro, NJ, tied his season-best mark in that performance. Warren Eure and Darius Acker also competed in the preliminaries, posting times of 48.86, 49.54 and 50.62, respectively.

In the 1500m run, Itay Magidi and Derrick Wyatt qualified for Saturday’s finals. Magidi, a sophomore from Yavne, Israel, turned in the fifth-fastest time of the trials, crossing the finish line in a season-best of 3:52.12. Wyatt, a senior from Liberty, SC, clocked a 3:53.67 to advance to the finals.

Three Tigers qualified for the finals of the 110m hurdles. Rashad Gardner was the top qualifier with the third-fastest time of the day (14.40), while Roy Cheney crossed the finish line in 14.46. Lydell Perry also qualified for the finals with his time of 14.51. Scott Kautz narrowly missed qualifying, as he placed ninth in the trials with his time of 14.89.

All four Tigers competing in the 400m hurdles qualified for Saturday’s finals. Rashad Gardner was the top Tiger qualifier, running a 52.54. Roy Cheney crossed the finish line in 52.59 and Lydell Perry also advanced to the finals with his time of 54.11.

Danny Alge placed sixth in the discus throw with a mark of 157’5″/47.98m to score for the Tigers, while Derek Gilson narrowly missed scoring with a ninth-place finish and mark of 148’1″/45.14m.

Clemson Individual Results100m - George Kitchens (q) - 10.50; Robert Ibeh (q) - 10.66; Mickey Sheats (p) - 10.95200m - Robert Ibeh (q) - 21.69; Michael Bolling (p) - 21.74; Warren Eure (p) - 22.33; Cowin Mills (p) - 22.41400m - Michael Bolling (q) - 47.84; Warren Eure (p) - 49.54; Darius Acker (p) - 50.961500m - Itay Magidi (q) - 3:52.12; Derrick Wyatt (q) - 3:53.67110m Hurdles - Rashad Gardner (q) - 14.40; Roy Cheney (q) - 14.46; Lydell Perry (q) - 14.51; Scott Kautz (p) - 14.89; Brent Hobbs (p) - 16.62400m Hurdles - Rashad Gardner (q) - 52.54; Roy Cheney (q) - 52.29; Lydell Perry (q) - 54.113000m Steeplechase - Itay Magidi (2) - 8:41.69; Sean Reilly (10) - 9:18.04; Ryan Fenton (11) - 9:19.10High Jump - Adam Linkenauger (1) - 7'1"/2.16m; Ryan Koontz (6) - 6'6.75"/2.00mLong Jump - George Kitchens (1) - 25'2.5"/7.68m; Jason Bell (10) - 22'8.5"/6.92m; Robert Ibeh (15) - 22'3"/6.78m; Mickey Sheats (19) - 21'7.5"/6.59mDiscus - Danny Alge (6) - 157'5"/47.98m; Derek Gilson (9) - 148'1"/45.14mDecathlon - Ryan Koontz (3) - 7,012 points

Day Two Team Standings 1. Clemson – 59 points 1. North Carolina – 59 points 3. Florida State – 57 points 4. Georgia Tech – 36 points 5. Virginia Tech – 27 points 6. Virginia – 26 points 7. NC State – 24 points 8. Wake Forest – 15 points 9. Duke – 8 points 10. Maryland – 1 point