Clemson Men Take Fifth at ACC Cross Country Championships

Oct. 28, 2006

Earlysville, VA – Itay Magidi broke the Panorama Farms course record on his way to winning the individual crown at the ACC Cross Country Championships on Saturday. Magidi, a senior, led the Tigers to a fifth-place team finish with his breakthrough victory. He is Clemson’s first individual ACC cross country champion since Kevin Hogan won in 1994. The Tigers now have a total of 11 individual ACC Champions in cross country.

“The team did a great job of competing today,” said Bob Pollock, head coach of the Tiger program. “Itay’s win was a great job, an incredible performance on his part. It’s great to have the conference champion at Clemson again.”

N.C. State took the team title with 31 points, beating out Florida State who had 79 points on the day. Virginia and Duke held off Clemson, who finished with 132 team points.

Magidi shattered his personal 8K best by posting a time of 23:52.5 on the winding, hilly course. It was the fastest winning time ever by a Clemson student-athlete at the ACC Championships. He won at the same course that saw Clemson’s Dean Matthews win the individual title in 1976, the program’s first. Matthews was on hand Saturday, 30 years later, to witness Magidi’s first-place performance.

It marked the second All-ACC honor for the senior from Yavne, Israel. He won honors in 2004 after finishing fourth individually. Magidi’s outstanding 8K time also broke the course record, which was held previously by current Liberty athlete Josh McDougal.

Bryce Iverson also earned All-ACC honors for the Tigers. The sophomore from Manassas, VA finished eighth with a time of 24:34.4. It marked his first all-conference honor. It marked just the second time since 1997 that Clemson had two All-ACC performers in cross country the same year. It happened in 2004, when Magidi and Derrick Wyatt both were named to the all-conference squad.

The Tigers’ third scorer Saturday was Sean Reilly scored for the second straight year at ACCs for the Tigers, as he completed the course with an effort of 26:10.1. Also competing for the Tigers this year were Eric Soder (66th, 26:42.6) and Jay Lumpkins (73rd, 26:54.2).

The Tigers will return to action in two weeks for the NCAA Southeast Regional in Louisville, KY.

ACC Championships – Team Standings 1. N.C. State 31 points 2. Florida State 79 points 3. Virginia 87 points 4. Duke 124 points 5. Clemson 132 points 6. Virginia Tech 145 points 7. Boston College 196 points 8. North Carolina 213 points 9. Wake Forest 217 points 10. Maryland 261 points 11. Georgia Tech 315 points 12. Miami 348 points

Clemson’s All-ACC Performers Itay Magidi Senior 1st 23:52.5 Bryce Iverson Sophomore 8th 24:34.4