Clemson Men’s Track And Field Team Qualifies Two For NCAA Championships

Feb. 7, 2004

CHAMPAIGN, IL – The Clemson men’s track and field team qualified two student-athletes for the NCAA Indoor Championships at the Carle/Health Alliance Classic hosted by the University of Illinois on Saturday. The Tigers’ Tye Hill and Derek Gilson turned in provisional qualifying performances in the 60m and shot put, respectively. As a team, Clemson tallied 168.5 points to Illinois’ 175.5 to take second place. Illinois State placed third with 53 points, California-Berkeley accumulated 43 points for fourth place and Western Illinois accrued 39 points to round out the field.

On the track, Tye Hill turned in a season and personal-best performance of 6.71 to win the 60m dash and provisionally qualify. Airese Currie took second and third in the event with times of 6.79 and 6.85, respectively. Currie captured the 200m with his season-best performance of 21.75, followed by Ronald Richards and Hill’s times of 21.93 and 21.97 to take third and fourth place, respectively. Warren Eure was the Tigers’ leader in the 400m, capturing second place with his time of 49.56. In the mile run, Lydell Perry was another event winner, claiming the 60m hurdles in 8.01, edging Roy Cheney who was the runner-up in 8.02. The Tigers’ 4x400m relay team of Richards, Perry, Eure and Bolling placed second in 3:16.14, and the distance medley relay team of also finished second (10:29.39).

Gilson’s winning mark of 58’6.75″ in the shot put was a provisional and personal-best mark. It also moved him into second place on Clemson’s all-time list in the event. Adam Linkenauger cleared 6’9.5″ in the high jump to finish second, and Jason Bell was the runner-up in the triple jump, posting a mark of 48’2″. Danny Alge led the Tigers in the weight throw, recording a mark of 54’4.5″.

The Tigers return to action on Saturday, Feb. 14 as they host the Tiger Invitation at the Clemson Indoor Track and Field Facility.

Complete Clemson Results 60m dash – Tye Hill (1) 6.71, (p) 6.77; Airese Currie (3) 6.85, (p) 6.97; Ronald Richards (p) 6.99; Michael Bolling (p) 7.01 200m dash – Tye Hill (4) 21.97; George Kitchens (6) 22.47; Larry Griffin (8) 22.48 400m dash – Warren Eure (2) 49.56; Roy Cheney (9) 50.85; Rashad Gardner (13) 52.09; Ryan Koontz (14) 52.70; Brent Hobbs (16) 55.03 800m run – Ahmad Rutherford (8) 1:55.52; Matt Clark (14) 1:59.61 Mile – Matt Clark (3) 4:15.87 3000m run – Sean Reilly (5) 8:32.63; Ryan Fenton (6) 8:33.56 60m hurdles – Lydell Perry (1) 8.01, (p) 8.04; Roy Cheney (2) 8.02; (p) 8.17; Ryan Koontz (6) 8.35, (p) 8.39; Brent Hobbs (8) 8.93, (p) 8.34 4x400m Relay – Richards, Perry, Eure, Bolling (2) 3:16.14 Distance Medley Relay – Pendleton, Gardner, Rutherford, Wyatt (2) 10:29.39 High jump – Adam Linkenauger (2) 2.07m/6’9.5″; Ben Daniels (T6) 1.92m/6’3.5″ Pole vault – Brent Hobbs (5) 4.29m/14’0.75″ Long jump – Jason Bell (7) 6.44m/21’1.5″ Triple jump – Jason Bell (2) 14.68m/48’2″; Brit Barrow (4) 14.38m/47’2.25″ Shot put – Derek Gilson (1) 17.85m/58’6.75″; Nick Caramanico (6) 15.11m/49’7″ Weight throw – Derek Gilson (9) 16.34m/53’7.5″; Nick Caramanico (10) 15.84m/51’11.75″; Matt Lombardi (12) 15.21m/49’11”