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Jan 24, 2020

Meet Central: Bob Pollock Invitational

Saturday Events

Recap

Day 2 Results

Clemson, S.C. – The Clemson Tigers Track & Field teams concluded competition at the Bob Pollock Invitational with 21 season bests and 11 personal bests on Saturday. Saturday’s success comes from nine different events, with the Tigers earning six top-three finishes throughout the day. Clemson’s men’s 4×400 meter relay and Aliyah Mallard, a sophomore sprinter, in the women’s 200 meters were Clemson’s first-place finishers on Saturday.

Anthony Hamilton became the 10th best performer in Clemson history for the men’s high jump with his mark of 2.15m (7-0.5). Hamilton, who cleared 2.14m (7-0.25) at last weekend’s Clemson Invitational, was previously tied for the 10th spot.

Director of Track & Field Mark Elliott

On Saturday’s results…

“You can see a team developing depth across the board… We had a personal best in the men’s pole vault today, and I love that. The throws group was right there as well, and the jumps are always going to come around being they’re always a good group. Coach (Vicky) Pounds is doing a great job with all of our kids that were here last year. They’re having personal bests in the 800 meters, the mile and the 3000 meters.”

On the 4×400 meter relays…

“I can see that it’s our best time this season by far, as we were trying to put our “A” team together. The good thing about the races was that you could see our depth… I’m very excited about that. The effort is always good, and you could see that as well.”

On the message to the team heading into the week…

“I told them to keep doing everything right. Now, workouts are going to get ratcheted up preparing for the championship run as it relates to conference and nationals. I am glad about the direction we are going.”

Group of the Meet: Long Sprints and Hurdles

The long sprints and hurdles group for the Clemson Tigers has been the epitome of consistent through the early part of the season. The group’s individuals, under the direction of assistant coach Lennox Graham, combined to earn nine season-best marks and five indoor personal bests at the Bob Pollock Invitational. Graham, who also oversees the relays for the Tigers, assembled his “A” team for the men’s and women’s 4×400 meter relays on Saturday, with the men winning their heat over the Georgia Bulldogs and the women finishing third in a closely contested race. In the women’s and men’s 60 meter hurdles on Friday, Kori Carter and LaFranz Campbell showcased consistency and competitive prowess in both the preliminary round and finals of their respective races.

Assistant Coach Lennox Graham

On the hurdles group…

“For Kori (Carter) I was so pleased that she put a race together. She has taken things from past races and put them towards this meet. She’s still making a few mistakes, but she’s still just a freshman, so she will… I was proud of her.”

“LaFranz (Campbell) is being consistent. He’s making some mistakes, but he’s improving in some areas at the start of the race and the end of the race. We know it’s going to take 7.72 or 7.73 to make the national meet, but we’re not just trying to make the national meet, we’re trying to score in it… I’m proud of him.”

On the 4×400 meter relays…

“The 4×400 group looked good today. We put a few 4×400 groups out there and we had good splits in each of them. We (the women) hit 3:32 last year and I am challenging our group to go a little bit faster than that.”

Saturday Highlights

  • Danielle Little logged a season’s best mark in the women’s weight throw to start the day for the Tigers, launching the implement to a mark of 18.08m (59-4). Little finished third overall.
  • Daniel Shaughnessy was the top Tiger in the men’s 800 meters, closing at a furious pace to finish second in his heat with a time of 1:55.15.
  • Mallard and Rebekah Smith were the lone competitors in the opening heat of the women’s 200 meters, with Mallard crossing the line first in 23.65. Mallard and Smith each earned a season’s best time in the race.
  • Alex Sands was the top finisher in the men’s 200 meters, leading a contingent of three Tigers to season-best marks. Ryan McClosky and Fabian Hewitt each logged indoor personal best marks, with McClosky’s time of 21.61 also serving as a lifetime best.
  • Mikie Harris and Jenna Gearing each broke the 10-minute barrier for the first time in their respective careers in the women’s 3000 meter run. Their times of 9:50.72 and 9:54.72, respectively, were sizeable personal-best marks for each student-athlete.
  • Harleigh White set a season-best mark of 12.35m (40-6.25) in the women’s triple jump, finishing fifth overall.
  • Clemson produced a pair of excellent results in the men’s and women’s 4x400m meter relays. The men’s team of Keco Morrison, Deonte Tolbert, Fabian Hewitt and Marcus Parker ran 3:10.42 to win the event. Clemson’s women’s team of Lakeisha Warner, Kamryn McIntosh, Aliyah Mallard and Andrea Foster ran 3:38.44 to place third overall.

Up Next

The Tigers now will now have a weekend off from competition before making the trip to Columbia to partake in the South Carolina Invitational on Feb. 7-8. Following the Carolina Challenge, Clemson will host the prestigious Tiger Paw Invitational, one of the nation’s premier indoor meets, on Feb. 14-15.

For complete coverage of the Tiger Track and Field team, follow @ClemsonTrackXC on Twitter and Instagram, and ‘Clemson University Track & Field’ on Facebook.

Friday Events

Friday Recap

Day One Results

Clemson, S.C. – The Clemson Tigers Track & Field teams produced a flurry of quality results Friday at the Bob Pollock Invitational. The first day of action, held at the Clemson Indoor Track & Field Complex, saw 24 Tigers register season-best marks and 15 set indoor personal bests, with 12 of those indoor personal bests also serving as lifetime bests.

Grant Voeks dazzled the crowd once again in the men’s shot put, launching the implement 18.77 meters (61-7) in the fifth round of competition. Voeks, who won the event with his mark, entered the day as the second-best performer in the event and improved upon his position with today’s result. The school record is held by Mike Spiritoso, who registered a mark of 19.80m (64-11.5) back in 1987.

 

Director of Track & Field Mark Elliott

Reflecting on the team’s success…

“The consistency of the team still shows. It’s good to see Lakeisha (Warner) back on the track, along with seeing Andrea (Foster) and Kamryn (McIntosh) dropping down to the 300 meters and running in the 39’s. That time makes us feel good about our 4×400 meter relay tomorrow. Another person that I was really excited about seeing was Kori Carter, with her being able to run those two 8.40 in the women’s 60-meter hurdles. It’s good for her as a freshman.”

On facing elite competition…

“Eventually we are going to get into the championship side of the schedule and we want to make sure that our kids are prepared for it. The thing about track and field is that you can’t shy away from competition. Our next meet is going to be at a high level against SEC teams.”

Friday Highlights

  • Claire Strickler started off the day on a strong note, setting a new indoor personal best in the women’s 5000 meters, knocking over 47 seconds off of her previous best. Brianna Hartley and Jackson Leech each made their debuts in the event for Clemson.
  • Jenna Gearing was the leading Tiger in the women’s mile, as Gearing latched on to a fast pace early and ran nearly a nine-second personal best time of 4:51.69.
  • Carter ran a pair of identical races in the women’s60 meter hurdles, running 8.40 for both the preliminary round and final of the event. The time was a season best.
  • The women’s 400 meters was a fruitful race for the Tigers, with five of the seven student-athletes competing earning season bests with their results. Lakeisha Warner, a senior for the Tigers, was the top Clemson finisher after running 56.75.
  • LaFranz Campbell continued to show consistency, running 7.77 and 7.78 in the preliminary round and final, respectively, of the men’s60 meter hurdles.
  • In the women’s shot put, VeronicaFraley was the top collegiate finisher, and third overall, with her mark of 15.47 meters (50-9.25). Janell Fullerton eclipsed the 15-meter mark for the first time this season, throwing 15.26 meters (50-0.75).
  • The men’s shot put saw Voeks and Zico Campbell each advance onto the finals of the event, with Voeks eventually winning the competition with a personal best throw of 18.77 meters (61-7).

 

Up Next

The Tigers are set to return to the track tomorrow as they compete in day two of the Bob Pollock Invitational. The first events will take place at 11:30 a.m., as the women’s weight throw, women’s high jump and men’s triple jump all begin competing. The high school girl’s mile, slated to go off at noon, will be the first event on the track.

For complete coverage of the Tiger Track and Field team, follow @ClemsonTrackXC on Twitter and Instagram, and ‘Clemson University Track & Field’ on Facebook.

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