Clemson’s Miller Moss Automatically Qualifies for NCAA Championships in Heptathlon

Jan. 29, 2011

CLEMSON, SC – Miller Moss automatically qualified for the 2011 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships with a school-record total in the heptathlon Saturday to highlight Clemson’s final day of action at the JRF Combined Events Invitational. Moss tallied 5,903 points – surpassing his previous career best of 5,699. Moss was an indoor All-American in the heptathlon last season.

Moss’ day began with an outstanding performance in the 60m hurdles. He clocked a time of 7.99 in the event, a personal best for the 6-foot-4 graduate student. Moss followed with a jump of 15’5″ in the pole vault. He finished strong with a time of 2:46.24 in the 1000 meters.

For the third time in four years at the JRF Combined Events Invitational, Moss has taken home first-place honors. His total ranks No. 1 in the nation, according to the updated marks listed on the Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). He also broke a five-year old Clemson Indoor Facility record.

Jasen Turnbull was the runner-up in the men’s mile race on Saturday. The senior from Northville, MI posted a time of 4:15.04, best of the 2011 season for Turnbull. In the women’s mile run, Alyssa Kulik shook off a slow paced start to the race and was able to produce a third-place finish. Kulik’s official time was 4:57.60, best of the season. Kim Ruck finished close behind in fourth place at 4:58.19.

Brittney Waller was Clemson’s top performer in the field events on Saturday. The sophomore out of Greenville, SC upped her personal best in the 20-pound weight throw, recording a toss of 67’0″. Her mark continues to rank third on Clemson’s career charts and moves her up in the TFRRS national rankings as well. Waller was No. 8 nationally in the weight throw heading into this weekend.

Thor Serafenas, a freshman from Maryland, finished fourth with a personal best 53’10”.

Josh Fowler was second place in the men’s long jump. The graduate student had a season-best in the event with a leap of 23’10.75″ on his second jump of the finals, his fifth overall of the afternoon.

Lauren Terstappen won the women’s pole vault on Saturday. The freshman from Phoenixville, AP cleared a height of 11’9.75″. Fellow freshman Christy Gasparino cleared 11’3.75″ and was the runner-up in the event for the Tigers.

Clemson’s select group of student-athletes also wrapped up action Saturday at the Penn State National Invitational at the Ashenfelter Indoor Track.

Misha Morris (24.64) also competed in the invitational section.

Joe Craig finished third in the men’s 200m invitational with a solid time of 21.37, his best of the season and the best time for any Tiger. Jordan Rispress was seventh in the men’s 400m invitational. The sophomore clocked a time of 47.76.

Rispress was joined by Justin Murdock, Warren Fraser and Kyle Younkin in the men’s 4x400m relay for the invitational section. The team produced a time of 3:11.52, which was a season-best for the Clemson men. In the women’s 4x400m relay, the usual group of Whitney Fountain, Kendrick, Brianna Rollins and Marlena Wesh placed third overall with a time of 3:41.95.

April Sinkler placed fifth in the women’s high jump. She cleared 5’8.75″ on her third attempt, but missed in three tries at the height of 5’10.5″.

Clemson’s teams return to action next weekend for the Virginia Tech Elite Meet in Blacksburg, VA.