Clemson Track & Field – 2011 Outdoor Season Review

Patricia Mamona Wins Second Straight NCAA Triple Jump Crown Clemson senior Patricia Mamona concluded her collegiate career in grand style, as she won her second consecutive NCAA triple jump crown at the outdoor national meet in June. Mamona won the event in wire-to-wire fashion, as she began with a leap of 44’11” and improved on her second attempt to 45’2.5″. She ultimately won with a top mark of 46’1.25″ on the first jump of the finals, and she was never challenged after that point. The native of Lisbon, Portugal actually had the four best jumps of the entire competition, illustrating her dominance in Des Moines.

Mamona joined select company in Clemson women’s track & field lore by winning her second individual title. The only other female in school history to win multiple individual national championships was Tina Krebs, who is a member of the Ring of Honor, Clemson’s highest honor bestowed upon a student-athlete. Krebs won three trophies in middle distance in the 1980s.

Clemson Women Repeat as ACC Champions Clemson’s women’s track & field team won its second straight ACC outdoor championship on Apr. 23. It was the program’s second straight indoor & outdoor team championship sweep. Clemson compiled 202 points, most by any school since the ACC moved to a 12-team conference in 2005. The Tigers won by a wide margin, +69.5 points over second place Florida State.

Six individuals won ACC championships, while Clemson earned its second straight league title in the 4×100 relay as well. Clemson won a total of seven events, or 33 percent of the competitions. Tiger athletes picked up an additional 11 all-conference honors due to top-three finishes across multiple events.

Women’s Team Finishes Seventh at NCAA Championships, Men Tied for 38th Clemson tied a school record for best finish in women’s outdoor track & field after placing seventh at the NCAA Championships in Des Moines, IA. The Tigers accumulated 28 points as a team, matching the 2001 group for both points scored and national finish. Clemson received 10 points from triple jump champion Patricia Mamona, eight from Liane Weber in a runner-up heptathlon effort, five from Alyssa Kulik in the steeplechase, two from both Michaylin Golladay and the 4×100 relay, and one from April Sinkler in the long jump.

The men’s team scored six points on the strength of Miller Moss’ bronze medal effort in the decathlon and tied for 38th in the standings.

Clemson Produces 10 First-Team All-Americans The Clemson track & field program produced 10 first-team All-Americans at the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, IA. The official announcement of first- and second-team All-America performers was released the Monday following the championship meet by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Nine members of the seventh-place women’s team earned first-team honors, while Miller Moss earned the distinction from the men’s squad.

Johnson Sweeps ACC, Regional Coach-of-the-Year Honors in Women’s Track & Field Clemson’s Director of Track & Field Lawrence Johnson was named 2011 ACC and Southeast Region Women’s Coach-of-the-Year by the USTFCCCA. It marked the second straight outdoor season Johnson earned both honors. He led Clemson’s women to a second consecutive championship at the ACC outdoor meet, the second straight indoor/outdoor sweep in program history. He then led the Tigers to a seventh-place team showing at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Johnson coached the Tiger women to six individual crowns and one relay title in 2011 as well. His women’s program produced a national champion triple jumper in Patricia Mamona and an NCAA runner-up in heptathlete Liane Weber.

Johnson First Among Tiger Coaches Director of Track & Field Lawrence Johnson already has more ACC championships than any previous women’s track & field coach in Clemson history, despite the fact he has been with the program only since 2008.

Clemson began a full women’s track & field program in 1985-86. Wayne Coffman, now an academic advisor at Clemson’s Vickery Hall, won a pair of ACC titles as women’s coach from 1984-97. Ron Garner followed him and led the 1999 team to an outdoor crown.

Johnson is responsible for leading Clemson to four of its seven ACC team championships in women’s track & field, more than half of the Tiger program’s total.

Moss Shatters School Record in the Decathlon Clemson graduate Miller Moss fell just short on his bid to sweep the men’s multi-event championships in 2011. The native of Sumter, SC finished in third place at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the decathlon, but he established a personal best by nearly 300 total points. Moss was just four points shy of his goal, accumulating 7,996 across the 10 events in Des Moines. His previous best had been 7,706 points in a runner-up finish at the ACC Championships in April.

Moss’ third-place showing in the decathlon was the best by a Clemson athlete at the NCAA Championships. He set a personal best in the opening event, the 100 dash, by clocking a time of 10.58. He concluded the first day with a season-best 47.23 in the 400 dash. On day two, he clocked an outstanding 14.10 in the 110 hurdles and solid marks in the discus and pole vault. He lost the lead in the javelin and was unable to overcome the deficit.

Moss Earns Bronze Medal at USA Outdoor Championships Clemson’s best performer in Eugene, OR in late June at the USA Jr/Sr Championships was departing senior Miller Moss, who donned the orange and purple for the final time in his brilliant career. He followed a bronze medal performance at the NCAA Championships with another one, this time against the likes of some of the best professional decathletes the U.S. has to offer.

After somewhat of a slow start, he got going in the third event, the shot put. Moss ended day one strong, turning in a time of 48.06 in the 400-meter dash. He began the second day just as strong, with a time of 14.21 in the 110 hurdles. Moss was solid across the board on day two and finished with 7,878 points, the second-best point total of his young career.

Weber Comes Full Circle, Finishes in Style in Heptathlon The NCAA national outdoor meet served as redemption for Clemson graduate Liane Weber, who just one year before missed all but one event in the heptathlon due to an injury. She had a torn foot tendon shortly after establishing the ACC’s heptathlon record (5,928), and only competed in the opening event of the NCAA Championships. She then rehabilitated her injury throughout the fall and into winter, where she eventually returned to the track to prepare for her final season of eligibility this spring.

Weber had quite a final season in a Tiger uniform. She won the ACC championship, her second in the heptathlon and fifth overall, with a total of 5,463 points. She was the ACC runner-up in the javelin. At the NCAA national meet, fully healthy for the first time in nearly a year, Weber amassed a total of 5,857 points and was runner-up to Ryann Krais of Kansas State.

The native of Wangen, Germany scored personal bests on day one in both the 100 hurdles (13.85) and shot put (43’4.25″) to put herself into contention for the championship. On the final day, she out-threw everyone in the javelin throw by 14 feet and ran a solid 800 time to finish strong.

Like Moss on the men’s side, Weber’s runner-up finish was the best performance for a Clemson female in the multi-events at an NCAA meet.

Weber Named ACC’s Outdoor Scholar-Athlete of the Year December graduate Liane Weber was named the ACC’s Outdoor Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women’s track & field, the conference announced at the conclusion of the season. Weber was one of eight women named to the All-ACC Academic Outdoor Team. She was also a Capital One Second-Team Academic All-District selection by members of CoSIDA. The other all-academic honorees from the women’s team were Stephanie Buffo, Karine Farias, Christy Gasparino, Alyssa Kulik, Patricia Mamona, Kim Ruck and Lauren Terstappen.

Clemson Produces Two ACC Meet MVP Winners Following the ACC Outdoor Championships, the conference awarded Most Valuable Performer honors for men’s and women’s athletes in track events and field events. The top point-getter in each category was awarded MVP honors from the ACC. The women’s team swept the honors, with Stormy Kendrick as Track MVP and April Sinkler named MVP for the field events.

Kendrick logged 38 points for the Tiger women’s team due to first-place finishes in the 100, 200 and 4×100 relay, and a runner-up finish in the 4×400 relay. Sinkler tallied 21 points, 10 in the high jump, eight in the long jump and three in the triple jump.

Kendrick swept the indoor and outdoor ACC Track MVP honors in 2011, while Sinkler’s outdoor MVP honor gave her five in her decorated career. The five meet MVP honors are most-ever by a Clemson female.

Sinkler Honored by USTFCCCA, ACC for Outdoor Accomplishments Clemson jumper April Sinkler continued to add to her trophy collection in 2011. The Stafford, VA native was named Most Valuable Field Performer for the ACC Outdoor Championships. It was her fifth career honor and second straight outdoor meet MVP award.

Sinkler was also named USTFCCCA Southeast Region Field Athlete-of-the-Year for women’s track & field for a fourth consecutive season. She swept the honor both indoors and outdoors in 2010 and 2011.

Sinkler Breaks Long Jump Records Red-shirt junior April Sinkler did not lack for consistency on May 7 when she won both the high jump and long jump and was runner-up in the triple jump, all on the same day, at the Bob Pollock Invitational.

Sinkler broke the school record in the long jump, giving her claim to both the indoor and outdoor Clemson standard in the event. She had a fine series in the long jump, culminating with what was then a career-best leap of 21’6.25″. The previous record of 21’5.5″ had been held by Monyetta Haynesworth since the 1992 season.

It would not stand for long. The next week, she broke the Rock Norman facility record with a personal best leap of 21’9.5″.

Kendrick Wins Three ACC Titles at Conference Meet in April Clemson sophomore Stormy Kendrick won two individual events and helped the 4×100 relay to a championship as well at the ACC meet in April. She was the first Tiger female to win at least three ACC titles at the same meet since Cydonie Mothersill took part in four championships in 2001. Mothersill won the 100 and 200 that season, and ran with both relay winners. This spring, Kendrick won the 100 and 200 and propelled the 4×1 to victory as well. She fell just short in a bid for four crowns, as the 4×400 relay team finished in the runner-up spot.

Kendrick was named the ACC meet MVP for track events, her second such honor of the 2011 season (also won the award indoors). She qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Round in both short sprints, as well as with both relay units. But, she was injured in practice prior to the meet and pulled up in the opening round, ending her season much sooner than anticipated.

Golladay, Edgerson Duplicate Relay Success in 2011 Bookend members of the 4×100 relay for the last two years, Michaylin Golladay and Jasmine Edgerson both earned first-team All-America honors again in 2011. Golladay ran leadoff leg for the Tigers at both the ACC Championships and NCAA Championships, while Edgerson brought both relays home as the anchor leg. The team won the ACC title, their second straight, with a time of 44.27. In the semifinals in Des Moines at the NCAA meet, the two led the relay to a school-record time of 43.54. That broke the school record of 43.62, which had stood since the 2001 season.

Golladay concluded her career with three All-America honors, including one this season as seventh-place finisher in the 100 hurdles. Edgerson has three career first-team All-America honors, all with relays, through the end of her sophomore season.

Men’s 4×400 Relay Earns ACC Indoor/Outdoor Sweep One of the most impressive groups within the track & field program in 2011 was the men’s 4×400 relay. The team of La’Mont Jackson, Jordan Rispress and Miller Moss collected conference crowns during both seasons. The team surprised the competition indoors with a time of 3:10.47, and then edged North Carolina in a much closer race outdoors. The unit combined to a time of 3:07.17 in winning the ACC.

Without a doubt, the relay’s most exciting moment of the year took place on May 30 in Bloomington, IN at the NCAA East Preliminary Round. Moss took the baton for the final leg and was sitting in fourth place heading into the final turn. The team needed a top-three finish in its quarterfinal to earn the automatic berth to nationals. Moss gutted his way around South Carolina’s anchor leg to propel the team to the final transfer spot in a season-best time of 3:05.74.

Kulik Establishes Multiple Firsts in the Steeplechase A case could easily be made that Alyssa Kulik was the most improved performer within Clemson’s track & field program in 2010-11. It all began in the fall, as she was all-region in cross country. She carried that success over into outdoor track & field, where she is Clemson’s best ever in the 3000 steeplechase. This spring, she broke multiple records and established several firsts in the event.

In April, she became the first female to earn all-conference status in the event. She was runner-up with a then personal best 10:05.51. She followed less than a week later by winning the event at the prestigious Penn Relays. Kulik then went on to post the first sub-10 minute time in the steeple (9:58.49) at the NCAA East Prelims in Bloomington, IN, as she was also the first female in school history to qualify for the NCAAs in the event. The Simpsonville, SC native responded well in her first trip to the NCAA Championships, crossing the finish line fourth in the final (with personal best 9:57.51) to earn All-America recognition for the first time.

Murdock Qualifies for NCAA Championships in Four Events Clemson junior Justin Murdock came into his own in 2011, earning trips to both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships in the short sprints. Outdoor season proved to be a breakout time for the Maryland native, as he qualified for the NCAA nationals in four different events. He qualified in both the 100 and 200, and with both relay teams as well. Murdock’s best finish was 12th, both in the 100 dash and with the 4×100 relay. Murdock clocked a personal best 10.13 in the 100 dash at the Clemson Final Qualifier, the No. 5 time in the decorated history of the men’s sprints program.

Eight First-Time NCAA Qualifiers Eight members of the Clemson track & field program qualified for the NCAA Championships for the first time in their career.

Warren Fraser led the men’s 4×100 relay to a 12th-place finish at the championship meet, and also competed in the open 100 semifinals.

La’Mont Jackson and Jordan Rispress both made their first appearances in a national championship meet. Both were key members of the men’s 4×400 relay, the ACC’s premier mile relay and one of the nation’s best in 2011.

Jasmine Brunson qualified in the women’s long jump in the 12th and final transfer position out of the East. She performed well at the national meet, finishing 15th with a jump of 20’3.75″.

Misha Morris attended the NCAA Outdoor Championships with the women’s 4×100 relay. Gracia stepped in for injured superstar Stormy Kendrick and helped the Tigers earn a spot at nationals. Both were key reasons the relay broke a 10-year old school record in the event with a time of 43.54 in the semifinals.

Bridgette Owens narrowly missed qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 60 hurdles, but she competed at the outdoor national meet in the 100 hurdles. Owens finished 12th out of 24 in the semifinal round with a time of 10.21, second-best among freshmen.

Lauren Terstappen was only the second Clemson female pole vaulter to compete at an NCAA national championship meet. She was the ACC runner-up after establishing the school record with a 13’3.75″ clearance in Durham.

Ruck Wins Second ACC Title of her Career An early-season trip to Palo Alto, CA was a productive one for Clemson junior Kim Ruck. She competed in the 10K and nearly broke the school record. Ruck was the event’s fourth-place finisher with the second-best time in Clemson history at 33:16.45. The time earned Ruck an automatic berth to the USA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, OR in June.

While her time was not as fast in late April at the ACC Outdoor Championships, Ruck was still better than the competition as she ran away with her first 10K crown. She had a time of 33:47.85 to claim her first ACC outdoor championship, her second overall title since joining the track & field team in 2008. It was the first women’s 10K crown for Clemson since Helen Rogers won the event in 1989.

Owens a Top-10 U.S. Junior Hurdler Clemson freshman Bridgette Owens earned the silver medal at the USA Junior Championships in the 100 hurdles, earning an invitation to the Pan American Juniors later this summer in Miramar, FL. Over the course of her first season in a Clemson uniform, she set the school’s freshman record in the high hurdles and competed at the NCAA Championships.

Her top accomplishment may have been the fact she produced one of the top 10 times in the event in the history of U.S. junior athletes. To be considered a junior, the athlete cannot turn 20 years of age in the year in which they competed. Owens, who turns 20 in 2012, clocked a wind legal time of 13.08 at the NCAA East Prelims in Bloomington, IN in May. It is interesting to note that Director of Track & Field Lawrence Johnson coached half of the top six U.S. junior athletes in the event, including No. 1 Kristi Castlin and No. 4 Queen Harrison, former Virginia Tech protégés.

Three Women Named to Capital One Academic All-District Second Team Three members of the women’s track & field program were named to the 2011 Capital One Academic All-District Second Team, announced in June by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Alyssa Kulik, Patricia Mamona and Liane Weber were all honored. It was the second straight year that both Mamona and Weber were named to one of CoSIDA’s Academic All-District teams. Weber earned her undergraduate degree in December, followed by Mamona at the May ceremonies. Kulik is majoring in modern languages, with a minor in psychology.