Clemson, S.C. – The Clemson Track & Field program concluded competition in the Tiger Paw Invitational on Saturday afternoon by earning five top-five finishes, eight indoor personal bests and 19 season bests.

Marcus Parker was the top Tiger on the day, as the senior from Phoenix, Ariz., set the track ablaze in the men’s 200 meters. Parker was the top finisher in the event, running a new indoor personal best of 20.70 to blow away the competition. The time now places Parker in the third position on the event’s all-time list at Clemson. Entering Saturday, the mark would have ranked third in the NCAA and would have been tied for third in the world.

Watch the race that set the track on fire!#ClemsonTrackXC pic.twitter.com/9CH9QXVBHG
— Clemson Track & Field 🐾 (@ClemsonTrackXC) February 15, 2020

Director of Track & Field Mark Elliott

On reflecting on the Tiger Paw Invitational…

“The effort was good. Marcus (Parker) topped the list. Now we have two weeks to prepare for the conference meet. The talent is there with the team, we just have to get everyone focused and hit it at the same time.”

Saturday Highlights

Taylor Boyles was the top Tiger in the men’s pole vault. Boyles finished in a tie for sixth in his flight after clearing 4.65 meters (15-03) on his third jump of the competition. The mark tied Boyles’ season’s best in the event.
D.J. Ledell set a new season’s best in the men’s triple jump, leaping to a mark of 15.28 meters (50-1.75). Ledell finished 12th overall in the competition.
Aliyah Mallard was the fastest Tiger in the women’s 200 meters, running 23.57 in her heat. Mallard was closely followed by Rebekah Smith and Sarah Hill, as the two ran 23.64 and 23.65, respectively.
Kenya Livingston was the lone competitor in the women’s high jump for the Tigers, clearing 1.73 meters (5-8) to place fourth overall.
Logan Morris was the top finisher for the Tigers in the women’s 3000 meters, as the redshirt junior made her season debut Saturday. Morris placed fifth overall with her time of 9:55.19.
Jackson Leech was the lone male competitor for Clemson in the men’s 3000 meters. The freshman ran a personal best of 8:40.11.
The women’s 4×400 meters quartet of Andrea Foster, Laurie Barton, Aliyah Mallard and Kamryn McIntosh set a new season’s best time of 3:37.58. That time moved Clemson into the second position in the conference standings.

Group of the Meet: Women’s Distance

The women’s distance group capitalized on competing against the high-caliber competition by walking away from the weekend with a slew of personal bests and continued confidence that has been evident all season. The group, led by Head Cross Country Coach Vicky Pounds, has logged multiple personal bests every weekend and tallied six personal bests and nine season’s best over the two-day Tiger Paw Invitational. Logan Morris returned to the track for the first time this season in the women’s 3000 meters on Saturday and led a contingent of women to sizeable personal bests. The group, which operates with confidence and consistency, was exceptional this weekend when they had their chance.

Head Cross Country Coach Vicky Pounds

On the group’s performance over the weekend…

“Consistency has been a key thing for this group. They started the season all running huge personal bests, but what has been impressive is to see all the kids have stayed consistent across the board. Having our senior girls here, they’re happy to contribute and race and their leadership is great.”

On Logan Morris returning to the track…

“I was very impressed. I know it wasn’t easy, but I had to remind her this is just her starting point. It’s been pretty amazing, keeping her healthy and now getting her on the track. I expect to see her continue to get better and better.”

The Clemson Indoor Track & Field Complex saw two facility records set on Saturday. Anavia Battle of Ohio State set the facility record in the women’s 200 meter dash with her time of 22.66. Jordan Scott of Tennessee set a facility record with his leap of 17.02 meters (55-10.25) in the men’s triple jump.

Clemson will look to conclude its regular season at a pair of meets next weekend. The team will send select athletes to the LSU Twilight on Feb. 21 and athletes to the JDL DMR Invitational on Feb. 21-22.

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

Friday Events

Friday Recap

Clemson, Campbell Deliver Strong Results on Friday

Clemson, S.C. – After the first day of action came to a close at the Tiger Paw Invitational, the Clemson Track & Field program earned a top-five finish in the women’s shot put, logged nine indoor personal bests and tallied 14 season’s bests. LaFranz Campbell was the star of the day for the Tigers, as the junior blazed down the runway in his semifinal heat of the men’s 60 meter hurdles, registering the fifth-best time in program history, 7.72, in the process.

Veronica Fraley was the lone Tiger to garner a top-five finish Friday, as Fraley tossed 15.86 meters (52-0.5) in the women’s shot put. The mark was hit on Fraley’s second attempt of the competition.

“I thought the day went extremely well, especially as it relates to our hurdlers,” said Director of Track & Field Mark Elliott. “With LaFranz earning a personal best, and Devon (Brooks) making a big-time final like this, it’s a good reflection on the direction they’re going… I’m happy with what we’ve put on the track today across the board.”

Friday Highlights

Caroline Johnston eclipsed the six-meter mark for the first time in her career in the women’s long jump, leaping 6.02 meters (19-09) on her second jump of the competition.
Danielle Little set a new season’s best mark in the women’s weight throw, launching the implement 18.13 meters (59-5.75). Little placed 14th overall in the event.
Trishauna Hemmings made her debut for the Tigers in the women’s 60 meter hurdles today, running a personal best of 8.47. Hemmings joined the program in January after spending the first part of her career at Hinds Community College.
Amelia Jones finished as the top Tiger in the women’s mile, running a new personal best of 5:04.76 in her heat. Jones finished 18th overall in the event.
Rebekah Smith was the top finisher in the women’s 60 meter dash, running 7.27 for the event. Smith’s time was one-hundredth of a second away from equaling her personal best.
Fabian Hewitt was the Tigers’ lone competitor in the men’s 60 meter dash, Hewitt earned a personal best in the preliminary round of the event with a time of 6.75. Hewitt would go on to finish 13th overall.
Keco Morrison led Clemson in the men’s 400 meters with his final time of 48.54. Morrison was the winner of his heat.

The Clemson Indoor Track & Field Complex had two new facility records set on Friday. Grant Holloway ran 7.38 in the finals of the men’s 60 meter hurdles, breaking his former facility record of 7.42 which he set in 2018. Carey McLeod of Tennessee set the new facility record for the men’s long jump with his leap of 8.16 meters (26-9.25).

Clemson will return to action tomorrow morning at 11 a.m., as day two of the Tiger Paw Invitational starts with the women’s shot put, women’s high jump, men’s triple jump and men’s pole vault.

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