Clemson Women Earn Third Straight ACC Indoor Track & Field Championship

Feb. 25, 2012

BOSTON – The Clemson women’s track & field program dominated Saturday en route to their third consecutive indoor crown at the ACC Championships. Clemson is the first school to claim three straight ACC indoor championships in women’s track & field since North Carolina (1999-2001). The Tigers won by a phenomenal 79-point margin over its closest competitor, Florida State. The Seminoles won the men’s team title, while Clemson was fifth.

“Our ladies went out and performed in fine fashion,” said Lawrence Johnson, Clemson’s Director of Track & Field. “For a long time, we were doing the hunting. But now, we’re being hunted. That takes a different approach. The student-athletes were really focused and brought their `A’ game.”

Dezerea Bryant received track MVP honors at the conclusion of the event after sweeping first-place spots in the 60 and 200 dash Saturday. The freshman from Madison, WI established an ACC meet record in the 200 with a time of 23.26. Earlier, she won the 60 dash with a time of 7.25, matching her season-best in the short sprint.

“I can’t say enough about Dezerea after she lost a family member in an automobile accident earlier this week,” Johnson said. “She’s had a heavy heart all week. Today was her day.”

Brianna Rollins won the 60-meter hurdles on the women’s side Saturday. The junior from Miami, FL took home the gold medal for the first time in her career at the conference level, despite already owning a national championship from last winter in the event. Rollins (8.07) held off silver medalist, teammate Bridgette Owens (8.08) at the line. Jasmine Edgerson was third (8.26), while Keni Harrison and Monique Gracia rounded out an all-Tiger lineup in the first five finishing spots.

“This was a long time coming for Brianna,” Johnson noted. “She was more nervous today than she was at last year’s national championships. She was trying to get that monkey (first ACC hurdles crown) off her back.”

Marlena Wesh took home first-place honors in the 400 for a second straight season, and then anchored the 4×400-meter relay to another win in the final event to end in convincing fashion. Wesh, who also placed fourth in the 200, had a time of 53.10 in the quarter mile final. Nia Fluker, who was also on the relay, finished fourth in the 400 (54.77).

Edgerson was two-time all-conference at the meet, as she finished runner-up in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.27. It was a career-best time for the versatile junior out of the Atlanta area. Stormy Kendrick took home all-conference accolades in both short sprints, finishing third in the 60 (7.31) and the 200 (23.66).

“Jasmine is our blue-collar worker,” Johnson said. “She does a lot of things for us, without complaining. We always feel her impact.”

Alyssa Kulik nabbed an All-ACC honor Saturday, as the senior out of Simpsonville, SC placed third in the mile run. She had a time of 4:43.20. Also in the distance events, sophomore Natalie Anthony continued her ascension on the track with a fourth-place showing in the 3000 meters. She crossed the finish line in 9:34.63, good enough for sixth in the Tiger record books. Kulik was sixth in that event.

Also claiming an individual championship for the women’s program Saturday for the first time was junior Jasmine Brunson in the triple jump. The Bermuda native hit a lifetime best on her sixth and final jump. Her mark of 43’3.75″ (No. 4 in Clemson history) actually tied the leader coming into the final round, but her second-best leap was enough to put her in the top position.

“Brunson has had some good practices, she was determined to win that gold medal,” Johnson said.

Women’s Team Standings 1. Clemson, 166 pts 2. Florida State, 87 3. North Carolina, 85 4. Virginia, 59 5. Virginia Tech, 53

Women’s ACC ChampionsDezerea Bryant – 60 Dash, 200 DashMarlena Wesh – 400 DashBrianna Rollins – 60 HurdlesNia Fluker, Stormy Kendrick, Keni Harrison, Marlena Wesh – 4×400 RelayJasmine Brunson – Triple JumpBrittney Waller – Weight Throw

Women’s All-ACC PerformersJasmine Edgerson – 60 Dash, 60 HurdlesStormy Kendrick – 60 Dash, 200 DashAlyssa Kulik – MileWhitney Fountain – Pentathlon

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The men’s team finished in fifth position and was led individually by Spencer Adams’ first-ever individual ACC championship. The red-shirt junior clocked a time of 7.72 in Saturday’s 60-meter hurdles final. He had won four all-conference accolades prior to the meet, but had never claimed a gold medal until Saturday.

“Our men’s team was sitting in third place for much of the meet, but our 4×4 team wasn’t as strong due to some injuries so that hurt us,” Johnson said. “The guys had a pretty good meet, one of the better meets we’ve had in a long time.”

Justin Murdock picked up his fifth all-conference accolade with a third-place finish in the 60-meter dash. The Pasadena, MD native posted a time of 6.69. Warren Fraser was sixth in the event, and also seventh place in the 200 dash.

Chris Slate was All-ACC for the third straight season in the 800 meters. The senior produced a third-place effort with a time of 1:50.06, his second-best of the season. In the 400 meters, transfer Jaron Roberson showed out Saturday with a fourth-place finish and season-best time of 48.05.

Marcus Maxey collected his first all-conference nod with a third-place showing in the 60 hurdles. The junior from Athens, GA had a time of 7.93 on Saturday, one of his most consistent performances to date. Elijah Britton was fourth, followed by Charlton Rolle in sixth.

The men’s 4×4 placed fourth with a time of 3:15.46. The team was comprised of Roberson, Murdock, Adams and Britton.

Shai Carpenter, a freshman from Mauldin, SC, had his best triple jump effort of the season and hit a mark of 50’6″ en route to a bronze medal. Carpenter saved his best for the sixth and final jump, a mark that puts him seventh in school history.

Also on Saturday, the men’s team had two scorers in the shot put. Marcus Brown, from Gaithersburg, MD, put together a mark of 56’11.5″ in a fifth-place finish. Cory Thalheimer was seventh (56’4.5″), the ninth-best mark in the Clemson record books.

Men’s Team Standings 1. Florida State, 123 pts 2. Virginia Tech, 95.5 3. North Carolina, 84.5 4. Virginia, 80 5. Clemson, 78

Men’s ACC ChampionSpencer Adams – 60 Hurdles

Men’s All-ACC PerformersJustin Murdock – 60 DashChris Slate – 800 MetersMarcus Maxey – 60 HurdlesTorian Ware – High JumpShai Carpenter – Triple Jump