Current, Former Tigers to Compete at USA Track & Field Championships

June 19, 2007

Clemson, SC – A pair of former men’s track & field athletes will join a current student-athlete from the Tiger squad at the USA Outdoor Championships this week in Indianapolis, IN. The senior nationals will be held Thursday through Sunday at the Michael A. Carroll Stadium. George Kitchens, former All-Americans at Clemson, will represent the program along with current sophomore Travis Padgett.

Crawford is most famous for winning an Olympic gold medal for the United States in 2004 in the 200m dash. He won three national titles at Clemson and earned 11 All-America honors in his brilliant career in the short sprints. He is a three-time USA Outdoor champion in the 200m dash. He has qualified in that event, as well as the 100m dash. Crawford’s top times this season are 9.96 (100m) and 20.21 (200m).

Kitchens was a four-time All-American from 2002-05 in the long jump. He also earned five all-conference honors, including three titles, during that time. The Hephzibah, GA native qualified with a mark of 25’11.5″ in Atlanta earlier this month. His personal best is 26’0.25″, which he accomplished at the Solid Orange Classic in April of 2006. His competition is scheduled for 6:00 PM on Friday, June 22.

Padgett also qualified in the 100m dash. The sophomore sensation earned three All-America honors in 2007, including a national championship in the 60m dash at the indoor meet. He also was third in the 100m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships earlier this month. He will be one of a handful of collegians entered in the event this week. His best time this season is 10.05, but his personal best was 10.00 last year as a freshman.

The first round of the 100m dash is scheduled for Thursday at 7:35 PM. The semifinals and final will take place on Friday. The 200m dash is set for 4:05 PM Saturday for the prelims. The semifinals and final are scheduled for Sunday.

Portions of the meet will be televised each day from Indianapolis. ESPN-2 will televise Friday action from 8-9 PM and Saturday from 7-8 PM. NBC will show action Saturday from 2-3 PM and Sunday from 1-3 PM.