Clemson Women’s Track & Field Moves to No. 3 in Latest Ratings

Feb. 7, 2012

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson women’s track & field team moved up a spot in the national computer ratings to No. 3 behind Oregon and LSU, the coaches association announced Tuesday. The Tigers began the indoor season with a No. 5 rating and had been fourth in each of the last two weeks. Arkansas and UCF round out the nation’s top five according to the USTFCCCA.

The No. 3 national rating is the highest on USTFCCCA record for the Clemson women’s track & field program. Of course, the 2001 women’s team finished third at the NCAA Championships.

“We’re very pleased to be ranked third in the country, but we aim to be atop the rankings at year’s end,” said Lawrence Johnson, Clemson’s Director of Track & Field. “Our kids have trained really hard and the results have reflected that on the track so far this season.”

Clemson is coming off a team championship at the prestigious New Balance Invitational in New York City last weekend. The Tigers won four major events on the women’s side – 60 dash, 60 hurdles, 400-meter dash and 4×400-meter relay. Stormy Kendrick took home the crown in the 60, Brianna Rollins in the 60 hurdles, and Marlena Wesh claimed gold in the 400.

Kendrick, Rollins and Wesh all rank atop the national leaderboard in those respective events. Kendrick matched her personal best and school record with a 7.22 last weekend. Rollins’ 7.97 from Friday’s final is the nation’s best. Wesh trounced the field to a time of 52.21, a new Clemson indoor record. All three qualified for the NCAA Championships in March.

Bridgette Owens also automatically qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships, which will be held in Boise, ID in a month’s time. Owens clocked a 7.97, the second-best time in Clemson history for the 60-meter hurdles.

The Tigers’ 4×400-meter relay has not yet auto qualified, but Clemson is atop the national rankings in that event as well. The team of Keni Harrison, Nia Fluker, Rollins and Wesh combined to a season-best time of 3:34.97 at the Auburn Invitational two weeks ago.

Other student-athletes currently ranked in the top 10 of their respective events are Dezerea Bryant in the 60 dash (3rd – 7.25) and 200 dash (3rd – 23.51), Wesh in the 200 (3rd – 23.51), Jasmine Brunson in the triple jump (7th – 42’1.5″), and Harrison in the 60 hurdles (7th – 8.20).

The Tiger women’s team returns to action this weekend in a trio of meets – the Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson, Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, AR, and the Husky Classic in Seattle, WA.