Clemson Opens Outdoor Season This Weekend in Charlotte

CLEMSON, S.C. – For the third straight spring, Clemson track & field opens its outdoor season at the 49ers Classic in Charlotte, N.C. The Tiger teams have not competed in groups since the ACC Indoor Championships in late February, with the exception of NCAA indoor national participants Tevin Hester and Mimi Land last week in Albuquerque, N.M.

The Tiger teams return a number of standouts who either did not have indoor eligibility left, or red-shirted for various reasons. Chief among them is Clemson graduate Marlena Wesh, a four-time first-team All-American and 10-time ACC Champion in the sprints. A 400 specialist, she is slated to open in the 200 this weekend and potentially run with Clemson’s 4×100 and 4×400 relays.

In addition to Wesh, mid-year enrollee Olivia James should open her collegiate career in Charlotte as well. A highly decorated quarter miler from Jamaica, she is expected to provide an instant boost to the Clemson women’s team in that area as well as the mile relay. Clemson’s top cross country performer, freshman Grace Barnett, makes her track debut for the Tigers as well. She red-shirted the indoor season for Head Coach Mark Elliott‘s program.

On the men’s side, former All-ACC thrower Marcus Brown returns to action after sitting out the indoor season. Brown is entered in both the shot put and discus for the Tigers.