Clemson Women’s Track And Field Concludes Competition In Clemson Opener

Dec. 6, 2003

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson women’s track and field team concluded competition on day two of the Clemson Opener held Saturday at the Indoor Track and Field Facility. Clemson’s Gisele Oliveira (triple jump) and Florida’s Kimberli Barrett (shot put) posted NCAA automatic qualifying marks, while three other student-athletes posted NCAA provisional qualifying marks, including Florida’s Andrea Bliss (60m hurdles) and Karen Freberg (shot put), and Georgia Tech’s Chaunte Howard (high jump).

Day two highlights for the Lady Tigers included top three performances by Gisele Oliveira, Shakirah Rutherford, and the Lady Tiger 4x400m relay team. Nicholson finished second in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.53. Oliveira set a Clemson Indoor record in the triple jump with a NCAA automatic qualifying mark of 43’11.25″, winning her second event of the meet. Rutherford was the runner-up in the 500m dash, crossing the finish line in 1:13.20. Clemson’s 1600m relay team won the event with a time of 3:41.34.

60m Dash (Finals) Amandi Rhett of Georgia Tech claimed the 60m dash with a time of 7.55, while Charlotte’s Tempess Stark was the runner-up in 7.59. Andriane Lapsley of Georgia Tech finished third in 7.61 and Valma Bass, running unattached was fourth with a time of 7.62. Clemson took fifth through seventh places, led by Jessica Cousin’s time of 7.68. Silja Ulfarsdottir crossed the finish line in 7.70, and Randi Hinton placed seventh with a time of 7.83. Winthrop’s Octavia Goode rounded out the field with a time of 7.85.

60m Hurdles (Finals) Florida’s Andrea Bliss provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.23, winning the race. Christina Smith, who finished in 8.83. Georgia Tech’s Andriane Lapsley finished sixth in 8.90m, and Jelyn Quick completed the race in 8.95. LaKendra McColumn of Florida State completed the race in 9.08 to round out the field.

300m Florida’s Tiandra Ponteen ran a 37.65 in the 300m dash to win the event. Clemson took the next three spots, led by Silja Ulfarsdottir time of 38.29. Teammate Randi Hinton was third in 38.86, and Jessica Cousins completed the race in 39.17. Shanta Smith of Georgia Tech rounded out the top five finishers with a time of 39.34.

500m Novlene Williams of Florida won the 500m dash with a time of 1:11.83, while Clemson’s Shakirah Rutherford placed second in 1:13.20. Ashlee Kidd of Georgia Tech took fifth in 1:13.50, and Clemson’s Christina Smith crossed the line in 1:15.14 to finish fourth overall. Brittnay Hall and Tangela Wobbleton, both running unattached, posted times of 1:15.14 and 1:15.70, respectively. Shareese Woods of Charlotte placed fifth among collegiate athletes with a time of 1:16.02.

800m Tammy King-Foster, running unattached, won the 800m with a time of 2:11.26, while Florida’s Kamille Bratton was the top collegiate finisher, crossing the finish line in 2:14.13. Gator teammate Amanda Schommer finished third overall and second among collegiate competitors with a time of 2:16.24, and Georgia Tech’s Jenny Sims placed fourth overall in 2:17.61. Jodi Heyens of Florida finished fifth overall with a time of 2:18.59, and Western Carolina’s Becky Signoretti was rounded out the top five collegiate finishers with a time of 2:24.26.

One Mile Katie Sujkowski of Appalachian State claimed the mile run with a time of 5:07.23, followed by Western Carolina’s Deanna Kulesz, who finished in 5:12.59. Carrie Selmer of Winthrop placed third, crossing the line in 5:19.65, followed by Florida State’s Sydney Mondragon who completed the race in 5:25.89. Florida’s Brigette Dyce finished fifth in 5:27.10, and Aisha Brown, an unattached runner, placed sixth in 5:47.37. Winthrop’s Alison Kenny rounded out the field, posting a time of 5:51.70.

3000m (Top 15) Florida State’s Viki Gill won the 3000m run with a time of 9:15.68, while Seminole teammate Rachel Evjen finished as the runner-up in 9:52.55. Western Carolina’s Melanie Cooper and Alissa Short took third and fourth places, with times of 10:42.35 and 10:43.14, respectively. Sadie Wells, running unattached, clocked a time of 10:57.85, and Leslie Horn of Winthrop was the sixth finisher with a time of 11:21.35.

4x400m Relay Clemson “A” won the 4x400m relay with a time of 3:41.34, while team TPA finished second in 3:49.43. The 1600m relay team from Florida State placed third in 3:53.67, and Western Carolina’s team was fourth in 3:55.00. The “B” team from Clemson took fifth with a time of 3:57.25.

High Jump Chaunte Howard of Georgia Tech won the high jump with a NCAA automatic qualifying mark of 6’2.25″, and Florida’s Krystle Moss took second with a clearance of 5’8.75″. Charlotte’s Adrienne Barnette cleared 5’5″ to finish third, and Katie Pickett of Clemson posted a mark of 5’5″ to finish fourth. Carly Brown of Florida rounded out the top five finishers with a mark of 5’5″.

Triple Jump Clemson’s Gisele Oliveira set a Clemson Indoor record and won her second event of the meet with a NCAA automatic qualifying mark of 43’11.25″ in the triple jump. Shanta Smith of Georgia Tech took second place with a leap of 43’4.5″, and Appalachian State’s Ronda White was third (42’8″). Florida State’s Latoya Legree placed fourth with a jump of 40’9.5″, and Sharonda Johnson of Charlotte posted a mark of 40’6″ to round out the top five collegiate finishers.

Pole Vault Chandra Lacombe of Florida won the pole vault with a Clemson Indoor record clearance of 12’5.5″. Appalachian State’s Suzanne Makinson finished second with a mark of 11’11.75″, followed by Florida’s Dana VanWagner and Dara Altman, who also cleared 11’11.75″. Clemson freshman Beth Jordan placed fifth with a clearance of 11’5.75″.

Shot Put Kim Barrett of Florida won the shot put with a NCAA automatic qualifying mark of 56’7.25″, leading four other top five Gator teammates. Karen Freberg was the runner-up with a NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 54’1.25″, and Candice Scott took third with a throw of 51’2.25″. LaQuanda Cotton placed fourth (49’0.25″) and Scarlett Ekeroma took fifth place with her mark of 47’11.25″

Clemson Results 60m Dash Shakirah Rutherford (p) – 7.81; Jelyn Quick (p) – 8.04 60m Hurdles Christina Smith (5) – 8.83, (p) – 8.83; Jelyn Quick (7) – 8.95, (p) – 8.81; Marquita Dortch (p) – 8.87; Ginger Pottorff (p) – 12.01 300m Silja Ulfarsdottir (2) – 38.29; Randi Hinton (3) – 38.86; Jessica Cousins (4) – 39.17; Ope Sobanjo (18) 500m Shakirah Rutherford (2) – 1:13.20; Christina Smith (4) – 1:13.60; Patrice McMillan (8) – 1:16.03 800mLauren Nicholson (10) – 2:31.17 High Jump Felicia Hawthorne (T9) – 5’1″ Triple Jump Gisele Oliveira (1) – 43’11.25″/13.39m; Katrina Moultrie (11) – 36’11.5″/11.26m Pole Vault Beth Jordan (5) – 11’5.75″/3.50m; Sara Young (T7) – 10’11.75″/3.35m Shot Put Della Clark (14) – 40’5.5″/12.33m; Allison Bradshaw (18) – 37’4″/11.38m; Lauren Nicholson (22) -34’1.5″/10.40m Weight Throw Della Clark (8) – 56’3″/17.14m; Allison Bradshaw (13) – 47’2.25″/14.38m; Krystal Woods (17) – 44’8.25″/13.62m