Javelin Throwers Lead Women’s Track & Field Team at Rain-Shortened Yellow Jacket Invitational

March 29, 2008

Atlanta, GA – A handful of women’s track & field athletes from Clemson competed Saturday in a rain-shortened Yellow Jacket Invitational at the George C. Griffin Track complex on Georgia Tech’s campus. Only half of the events were completed due to the inclement weather, but Linda Buchholz and Bethanie Wachna both qualified for the East Region Championships by virtue of strong marks in the javelin throw.

Buchholz, the school record-holder in the event after her performance at this very meet last season, finished runner-up Saturday after posting a mark of 148’7″. Wachna was right behind in third place after she recorded a personal best of 145’11”. The sophomore from Canada moved into second place in Clemson’s record books in the event, bypassing Krystal Woods to move behind Buchholz in the javelin.

Ra’Sheena Parker was Clemson’s top performer in the 100m dash Saturday, turning in a time of 12.40 which put her in 18th place overall. Sierra Hill finished 21st in the quarter mile with a time of 58.37.

Krystal Barringer won her section of the 100m hurdles and was sixth-best overall with a time of 14.44. She ran against a stiff, -1.6 wind Saturday which certainly slowed her time. Maggie Bernard was seventh in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 12:14.83, easily a personal best and the third-best time in school history in the event.

The Lady Tigers ran the 4x100m relay for the first time this outdoor season and came away with a seventh-place finish. Clemson’s team of Ra’Sheena Parker, Krystal Barringer, and Michaylin Golladay put together a finishing time of 46.79, shy of the regional-qualifying standard.

The team will return to action next weekend in Gainesville, FL for the Florida Relays. The Clemson Invitational, scheduled for April 5 at the Rock Norman Track, was cancelled earlier this week.