Men’s Track & Field Sends Nine to NCAA Outdoor Championships

June 5, 2007

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Clemson, SC – Nine student-athletes from the Clemson men’s track & field team have made the trip to Sacramento, CA for this week’s NCAA Outdoor Championships. The meet will take place Wednesday through Saturday at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex on the campus of Sacramento State University.

The first action for the Tigers will be Wednesday at 3:00 PM (PT). The 4x100m relay team, whose makeup will be determined at the site of the meet, will compete in the first of two semifinals. C.J. Spiller all traveled with possibilities of running with the 400m relay squad. Should the Tigers advance to the final, it will be held Friday at 4:30 PM. Clemson had the nation’s third-best time at 39.15, accomplished two weeks ago in the East Region final.

Ford and Padgett both qualified in the 100m dash, which will begin Wednesday as well. The qualifying round will take place at 4:40 PM. The top four finishers in each heat plus the next six best times will move on to the semifinals two hours later. Ford and Padgett will compete in the first of three prelims.

Matt Clark qualified in the 5000m run after an outstanding performance at the East Region Championships. He will compete Wednesday evening at 8:50 PM. The top six from each plus the next four best times advance to Friday’s final. Clark will compete in the first semifinal Wednesday.

Adam Linkenauger will compete in qualifying rounds of their respective field events Wednesday as well. Fields will compete in the long jump at 4:00 PM. The top twelve move on to Thursday’s final. Greeley is scheduled for the pole vault at 6:30 PM. He is fresh off a strong runner-up showing at the East Region Championships in the event. Linkenauger, participating in his third NCAA outdoor meet, will compete in the high jump prelims at 7:15 PM. The finals for the pole vault and high jump will take place Friday.

Padgett will be the lone track athlete to compete Thursday. He qualified as an at-large in the 200m dash thanks to a personal best time of 20.67 in the prelims at the East Region Championships. The qualifying round for the 200m is set for 3:30 PM. The top three from each heat plus the next six best times move on to Saturday’s final. Padgett will run in the third of four prelims Thursday.