Clemson Women Finish Third, Men Fifth at 2009 ACC Indoor Championships

Feb. 28, 2009

Blacksburg, Virginia - Jacoby Ford's ACC-record time in the 60m dash and Clemson's third-place finish on the women's side highlighted the final day of action for Tiger track & field at the ACC Indoor Championships.  The women's team compiled 85 points and were third place, highest finish for the Clemson women since the 2004 team was also third.  The men finished fifth.  Florida State won the team competition for both the men and the women.

“I’m excited for our girls,” said Lawrence Johnson, Clemson’s Director of Track & Field. “They did an outstanding job and competed well. I’m excited for both teams. We can really grow from this experience.”

Ford broke his previous conference record with a time of 6.51 in the 60m dash final Saturday, shaving one hundredth of a second off his time. It was the second 60m crown for the junior two-sport star from Royal Palm Beach, FL. He is the first multiple winner of the 60m dash for the men’s team since Shawn Crawford won the event in back-to-back years (1999, 2000).

Trenton Guy performed well in the 60m dash, finishing fourth (6.71). C.J. Spiller came across in seventh position (6.77).

Kristine Scott was seventh in the 60m dash (7.58) and fifth in the 200m final (23.96). It marked a career-best performance at the ACC Championships for the junior out of Orlando, FL.

Michaylin Golladay was strong in the 60m hurdles for the Tigers. She finished fifth overall, her career-best performance at the ACC level. She posted a time of 8.38, an NCAA provisional qualifying effort. It also ranks as the second-best time in the 60m hurdles in Clemson women’s history. Patricia Mamona also competed in the event and was eighth (8.48).

Travis Swaggard garnered his first individual All-ACC accolade Saturday by finishing third in the 400m dash. The Lorton, VA product posted a personal best time of 47.76 and won the first section. He followed that with a third-place showing in the 200m dash as well, clocking a time of 21.48. Ford did not start the 200m dash after cramping following the 60m final.

Will Noble was 10th in the mile run, as he posted a time of 4:16.76 in Saturday’s final. The women’s team placed fifth in the mile relay, turning in a time of 3:43.88. The relay consisted of Golladay, Mamona, Scott, and Liane Weber.

Mamona earned her second All-ACC certificate of the week Saturday after finishing in third place in the triple jump. She hit a mark of 43’3″, making her all-conference for the third straight year indoors in the triple jump. April Sinkler, who won two events Friday, was fourth after a jump of 42’8.75″. Her mark now ranks as the third-best triple jump in school history.

Caroline Kennedy broke the Clemson women’s indoor record in the pole vault, as she cleared 12’9.5″. She finished in sixth place and was a scorer at the league indoor meet for the third consecutive year. Also scoring for the Tigers in the event was Amy Morrison, a Michigan native who cleared a personal best 12’5.5″. Her mark ranks in a tie for fifth in Clemson’s record books. Emily Barlage did not score but was ninth with the same clearance.

Alex Padgett was the lone scorer in the shot put for Clemson on the day. The sophomore was eighth place, as he recorded a toss of 53’1.75″.

The teams return to action next weekend for the final tune-up before the NCAA Championships. Clemson could be participating in last chance qualifying meets in Arkansas, Virginia Tech, or Notre Dame.

Men’s Standings (Final) 1. Florida State, 125 2. Virginia Tech, 98.5 3. Virginia, 94 4. North Carolina, 61.5 5. Clemson, 57

Women’s Standings (Final) 1. Florida State, 132 2. North Carolina, 104 3. Clemson, 85 4. Virginia Tech, 83.33 5. Miami, 61