Clemson’s Outdoor Track & Field Season Underway

March 18, 2011

CLEMSON, SC – Clemson began the 2011 outdoor track & field season on Friday at two separate meets. A small group of athletes competed on day one at the Hurricane Invitational in Miami, FL, while a bigger group took part in Friday’s events at the 49er Classic in Charlotte, NC.

Sara Young (2005). Fellow freshman Michael Kopanski captured the men’s pole vault title. He hit a jump of 16’4.75″ to outlast teammate Jeffrey Willis, who had a clearance of 15’5″.

Clemson’s distance runners competed in Charlotte. Jasen Turnbull and Alyssa Kulik won the men’s and women’s 1500m run, respectively. Turnbull crossed the finish line with a time of 3:53.01, holding off unattached runner Lamont Marshall. Chris Slate was fourth (3:53.99) and Ty McCormack (3:54.27) was sixth, respectively. McCormack was making his first appearance in a Clemson track uniform after red-shirting the indoor season.

Kulik won the women’s race with a time of 4:32.16, a personal best for the junior from Simpsonville, SC. Her time is now No. 9 on the school’s all-time performance list for the 1500m run. Sarah Turman placed fourth in the women’s 5K after posting a time of 17:49.41.

Also competing in Charlotte at the 49er Classic were some of Clemson’s throwers. Thor Serafenas was eighth after putting together a toss of 165’5″ on his first-ever collegiate hammer throw attempt. Danielle Curry was ninth in the women’s discus with a throw of 132’10”.

The Tigers return to action on Saturday at both meets.