Clemson Track & Field to Compete at 116th Penn Relays Thursday through Saturday

April 27, 2011

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson track & field teams will travel to Philadelphia, PA to historic Franklin Field to compete in the 116th Penn Relays, the world’s oldest and largest track & field carnival. The Tiger women, fresh off their fourth straight ACC team championship, moved up a spot to No. 4 in Tuesday’s national ratings. The Tiger men’s team is coming off an improved ACC showing, as they finished fourth last weekend in Durham, NC.

Clemson will travel a squad of 29 student-athletes to Philadelphia, 15 from the women’s team and 14 off the men’s roster. The Tigers will compete in multiple relays each day, with a few individual events sprinkled in as well.

The first action for the Tigers will be the women’s pole vault at 10:00 AM. Lauren Terstappen, the ACC’s runner-up last weekend after establishing a school record (13’3.75″) in the event, will compete alongside fellow freshman Christy Gasparino.

All other individuals in action Thursday will come from the distance groups. Ty McCormack will run the championship section of the men’s 3000m steeplechase at 7:30, followed by Stephanie Buffo and ACC runner-up Alyssa Kulik in the women’s steeple at 8:00. Kim Ruck will finish out the evening by running the championship 5K section at 8:40. Ruck is coming off an ACC championship in the 10K.

Thursday’s relay action will include the prelims for the women’s 4x100m relay at 1:00 and the women’s 4x400m at 5:45.

On Friday, the men’s pole vault will take place at 10:00 AM and will feature freshman Michael Kopanski. Also in action Friday, Josh Fowler and Will Robinson will compete in the collegiate section of the men’s long jump at 3:30.

Friday will feature multiple relays for both teams, starting with the prelims for the men’s 4x100m relay at 12:35 PM. The men’s heats for the 4x200m relay will be held at 1:50, followed by the women’s 4×2 prelims at 2:10.

The men’s shuttle hurdle relay will look to defend its 2010 championship at 2:55 on Friday afternoon. Last season, the Tigers won their first event at the Penn Relays since the 1998 men’s shuttle hurdle relay took home the famous wooden wheel. The women’s shuttle hurdle relay championship of America follows that at 3:15. Also on Friday, the prelims for the men’s 4x400m relay will be held at 4:40.

On Saturday, the finals for the men’s and women’s 4x100m, 4x200m and 4x400m relays will be held. Clemson will also field a strong team in the men’s 4x800m relay at 4:25 PM that afternoon.