Clemson Women Roll to Fourth Straight ACC Track & Field Championship

April 23, 2011

DURHAM, NC – Stormy Kendrick won both the 100m and 200m dash events Saturday to lead the Clemson women’s track & field team to a fourth straight ACC championship, the program’s second straight outdoors. The Tiger women, rated No. 5 in the nation by the latest USTFCCCA calculations, produced a total of seven event champions and totaled a school-record 202 points. The closest competitor was Florida State with 132.5. The Clemson men finished in fourth place, their best finish since the 2008 season.

Director of Track & Field Lawrence Johnson discussed the championship performance and much more.

Kendrick was named outdoor MVP for the track events. She won the 100m dash with a time of 11.25, just shy of her school record in the event. She then came back an hour later and did the same in the 200, winning the event with a time of 23.09. Her 200 time was a personal best, tied for fourth on Clemson’s all-time performance chart.

Stormy Kendrick talked about winning both sprints and taking home another team championship.

April Sinkler won the high jump to start the day and was named MVP for field events. It was her second straight outdoor championship in the event and her seventh overall ACC individual title. Sinkler came through in the clutch, as she cleared 5’8″ on her final attempt to stay alive. With the bar at 5’10.5″, she cleared it on her second attempt while UNC’s Patience Coleman did on her third attempt. Coleman missed three tries at 5’11.5″, so the championship belonged to Sinkler.

ClemsonTigers.com caught up with April Sinkler after her competition to get her thoughts on the victory.

The women’s 4x100m relay earned a repeat championship in Saturday’s final. The team of Misha Morris and Jasmine Edgerson put together a time of 44.27, Clemson’s best on the young outdoor season. It was Clemson’s first back-to-back ACC title in the event since the 1992 and 1993 seasons.

Wesh captured the women’s 400m dash. The sophomore out of Virginia Beach, VA clocked an impressive time of 52.28, winning with a dominating performance. Her time ranks No. 2 on Clemson’s all-time outdoor list. She has now swept the 400m dash in 2011. She won the indoor event in February with a school record.

The men’s 4x400m relay closed out the competition in grand style, winning its second conference crown of the 2011 season (also won indoors in February). The team of La’Mont Jackson, Jordan Rispress, and Miller Moss combined to a time of 3:07.17. In the women’s 4×4, the group of Wesh, Kendrick, Sonni Austin and Brianna Rollins finished in the runner-up spot.

Jasmine Edgerson was runner-up in the women’s 100m dash. The sophomore out of Marietta, GA had a time of 11.36, a personal best and the No. 5 time in Clemson outdoor history. In the 200 final, Wesh was runner-up to Kendrick after clocking a time of 23.26. Her time in that event is good enough for eighth-best in school history.

Rollins was runner-up in the 100m hurdles final. She clocked a time of 12.99, but was edged by Miami’s T’erra Brown inside the final 20 meters. Michaylin Golladay earned the bronze medal (13.15), just ahead of freshman Bridgette Owens (13.16) who was fourth.

The men’s 4x100m relay was runner-up Saturday. The group of La’Mont Jackson combined to form a time of 40.42. Jackson went on to a strong finish in the men’s 400m dash. A native of Winston-Salem, NC, Jackson clocked a time of 47.33 and finished fourth. Murdock was fourth in the 100m dash (11.37) and fifth in the 200 (21.07).

Chris Slate earned his second all-conference honor of the season. He placed third to earn the bronze medal on Saturday in the 800m final. He had a season-best time of 1:49.54. Freshman teammate Nathan Hendershot also scored high, placing fifth overall.

Lauren Terstappen had an outstanding meet. The freshman from Phoenixville, PA put on a show in the pole vault, as she cleared 13’3.75″ on her third and final attempt. She earned a silver medal with her school-record clearance. In the triple jump, Clemson’s Patricia Mamona finished in second place but tweaked an ankle on her third attempt of the prelims. She passed all three jumps in the finals and held on to the silver medal, as she hit a mark of 42’9.5″ to start out the competition.

Michael Kopanski earned a fifth-place finish in the pole vault. The Dacula, GA native cleared 16’2.75″ to earn points for the men’s team.

Alex Padgett was fifth in the men’s hammer throw. The 2011 shot put champion had a throw of 194’9″, his best on the season. Brittney Waller took sixth in the women’s hammer throw. She had a personal best throw of 180’2″ on her last attempt of the preliminary round. Her mark was good enough for fifth all-time in the Clemson record books.

The teams return to action next week in Philadelphia, PA at the historic Penn Relays.

Clemson’s ACC ChampionsStormy Kendrick – 100 meter dashStormy Kendrick – 200 meter dashMarlena Wesh – 400 meter dashKim Ruck – 10,000 meters Golladay, Kendrick, Morris, Edgerson – Women’s 4×100 meter relay Murdock, Jackson, Rispress, Moss – Men’s 4×400 meter relayApril Sinkler – Women’s high jumpLiane Weber – HeptathlonAlex Padgett – Men’s shot put

Clemson’s All-ACC PerformersJasmine Edgerson – Women’s 100 dash (2nd)Marlena Wesh – Women’s 200 dash (2nd)Spencer Adams – Men’s 110 hurdles (2nd)Brianna Rollins – Women’s 100 hurdles (2nd)Michaylin Golladay – Women’s 100 hurdles (3rd)Chris Slate – Men’s 800 meters (3rd)Alyssa Kulik – 3000m Steeplechase (2nd)Lauren Terstappen – Women’s pole vault (2nd)April Sinkler – Women’s long jump (2nd)Jasmine Brunson – Women’s long jump (3rd)Patricia Mamona – Women’s triple jump (2nd)Liane Weber – Women’s javelin (2nd)Patricia Mamona – Heptathlon (2nd)Miller Moss – Decathlon (2nd)