Clemson Women’s Track & Field Qualifies Two For NCAA Outdoor Championships

May 29, 2004

GAINESVILLE, FL – The Clemson women’s track and field team completed competition at the East Region Championships on Saturday at the Percy Beard Track on the University of Florida. Gisele Oliveira set the ACC and Clemson triple jump records en route to the East Region Championship, while Silja Ulfarsdottir automatically qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 400m hurdles. The national meet will be held on June 9-12 in Austin, TX.

In the 400m hurdles, Silja Ulfarsdottir finished fifth with a time of 57.48 to automatically advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. This will be her first appearance at the national meet for the junior from Reykjavik, Iceland. Ulfarsdottir moved into second on the Lady Tigers’ all-time list in the 400m hurdles with her performance this weekend.

Gisele Oliveira reset the ACC and Clemson triple jump records as she claimed the East Region Championship in the event. The junior from Porte Alegre, Brazil, recorded a personal-best mark of 44’10.75″ on her first attempt. Oliveira is the Lady Tigers’ first region champion in the triple jump and is making her third appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the event. She placed third in the triple jump at the 2003 NCAA meet.

The Lady Tigers’ 4x100m relay team of Ulfarsdottir, Christina Smith, Randi Hinton and Jessica Cousins recorded a time of 45.74 to finish ninth in Saturday’s finals.

Katie Pickett, a senior from Maryville, TN, concluded her Clemson career on Saturday. Pickett cleared 5’6.5″ to tie for 17th. She ranks second on the Lady Tigers’ all-time list in the high jump.

In the final event of the night, the Lady Tigers’ 4x400m relay team of Ulfarsdottir, Hinton, Cousins and Smith crossed the finish line in 3:38.20 to place eighth.

Clemson’s 2004 NCAA Automatic Qualifiers 400m hurdles – Silja Ulfarsdottir Triple jump – Gisele Oliveira

Clemson Saturday Results 400m hurdles – Ulfarsdottir (5) – 57.48 4x100m relay – Ulfarsdottir, Smith, Hinton, Cousins (9) – 45.74 4x400m relay – Ulfarsdottir, Hinton, Cousins, Smith (8) – 3:38.20 High jump – Katie Pickett (T17th) – 5’6.5″/1.69m Triple jump – Gisele Oliveira (1) – 44’10.75″/13.68m