Clemson’s Matthews, Kessler, Gilson and Kitchens To Compete At USA Championships

June 20, 2002

CLEMSON, SC – Four members of the Clemson men’s track and field team will compete at the USA Junior and Senior Championships Friday, June 21 through Sunday, June 23 in Palo Alto, CA. Todd Matthews will compete in the 110m hurdles in the USA Senior Championships, while Andrew Kessler (pole vault), Derek Gilson (shot put) and George Kitchens (long jump) will compete in the USA Junior Championships.

Matthews, from Trenton, NJ, finished second in the 110m hurdles at the 2002 NCAA Championships with his personal-best time of 13.53. He was the 2002 ACC runner-up in the event, and finished his career with five indoor and outdoor All-America honors in the hurdles. Matthews ranks third on Clemson’s all-time best list in the 110m hurdles. The first round of the 110m hurdles is slated for 7:00 PM on Sat., June 22. The semifinals and finals will be contested on Sun., June 23, at 1:00 PM and 3:13 PM, respectively.

Gilson, a red-shirt freshman, will compete in the discus throw on Fri., June 21 at 12:00 PM and the shot put on Sat., June 22 at 11:30 AM. The native of Red Bank, NJ, set his personal-best marks in both events at the Georgia Throws Invitational. He has a qualifying mark of 154’9″ in the discus and a mark of 53’8.25″ in the shot put.

A sophomore from St. Albans, WV, Kessler will compete in the pole vault on Fri, June 21, at 11:30 AM. Kessler cleared 16’2.5″ at the 2002 ACC Outdoor Championships to qualify for the Junior National meet.

Kitchens, a sophomore from Hephzibah, GA, will compete in the long jump on Fri., June 21, at 11:45 AM. He was named the 2002 ACC Rookie of the Year and All-ACC after finishing second in the long jump with a season-best mark of 24’7.75″.

Highlights from this year’s events will be televised on Sun., June 23 at 5:30 PM ET on ESPN2.

Clemson Tigers Competition ScheduleTodd Matthews – USA Senior Championships 110m hurdles – First round Sat., June 22 7:00 PM; Semifinals Sun., June 23 1:00 PM; Finals Sun., June 23 3:13 PM.

Derek Gilson Shot Put – Sat., June 22 11:30 AM

Andrew Kessler Pole Vault – Fri., June 21 11:30 AM

George Kitchens Long Jump – Fri., June 21 11:45 AM

*All times listed are Pacific Time unless otherwise noted.