Clemson Qualifies Six Student-Athletes for NCAA Outdoor Championships

June 2, 2009

Clemson, SC – A total of six student-athletes from the Clemson track & field program were extended official bids to this year’s NCAA Outdoor Championships (June 10-13 • Fayetteville, AR) on Tuesday. The NCAA released the declaration list for the outdoor national meet, and the Tiger program will be represented by five members from the men’s team and one member of the women’s team.

Jacoby Ford headlines the list of participants for Clemson. The junior from Royal Palm Beach, FL won the 100m dash last weekend at the NCAA East Regional, while also anchoring the 4x100m relay to victory in Greensboro. Ford is currently #2 in the NCAA in the 100m dash with a top time of 10.04. Ford, who also won the ACC championship earlier this season in the 100m dash, will be competing for the second straight year in the event. He was fifth place at last year’s meet in the 100m dash, earning his first outdoor All-America honor.

C.J. Spiller and Justin Murdock were accepted as at-large entries for the 100m dash. Murdock is coming off an impressive sixth-place finish at the NCAA East Regional as a freshman. His best this season was 10.30 at the Orange & Purple Classic in early May. Spiller, meanwhile, finished 10th at regionals but enters the NCAA Championships with the nation’s 12th-best time in the event (10.22). This will be the first NCAA national competition for both Murdock and Spiller in the 100m dash. This will be Spiller’s second trip to outdoor nationals, however. He was an All-American in 2007 with the 4x100m relay.

Spiller, Murdock, and Trenton Guy complete the lineup for the Tigers’ 4x100m relay team. The group recorded a school record and Irwin Belk Track record last weekend after winning the event. The time of 38.78 also ranks #2 in the nation of the teams that qualified in the relay. This will mark Guy’s first-ever trip to an NCAA championship meet. The sophomore from Charlotte, NC was a big part of Clemson’s win last weekend, as he ran a strong third leg.

Ryan Koontz in 2006.

The lone athlete from the women’s side to make the trip will be Kristine Scott. A junior from Orlando, FL, she is making her first-ever trip to an NCAA national meet as well. Scott placed 10th over the weekend in the 200m dash, but she is an at-large invitee based on her personal best (23.50) from the season. Scott is the first female sprinter from Clemson to qualify for 200m dash at the NCAA Championships since Shekera Weston in 2001.