Murdock, Sinkler Highlight Clemson’s Efforts on Day One of Final Qualifier

May 13, 2011

CLEMSON, SC – Justin Murdock set a personal best with the fastest time in the 100m dash prelims and April Sinkler set a pair of Clemson long jump records to highlight the first day of action at the Tiger Track & Field Final Qualifier. In all, Clemson athletes won four events on Friday and several improved their season bests and ranking within the East Region.

Murdock had a sizzling time in the preliminary round. He clocked a time of 10.13, by far best among the field Friday. His time was good enough to elevate him to No. 5 on Clemson’s all-time list, just ahead of former Olympian Joe Craig (10.35) also had a personal best and qualified for Saturday’s final, which is set for 2:15 PM.

ClemsonTigers.com caught up with Murdock after the race to get his thoughts on the performance.

Misha Morris moved on in the women’s 100m dash. Edgerson had a time of 11.44, while Morris crossed with a time of 11.63. Saturday’s 100 final is scheduled for 2:10 PM.

Four women from Clemson’s team moved on to Saturday’s final in the 100 hurdles. Briana Johnson (13.72). Golladay’s time was a personal best and moved her to No. 2 all-time in Clemson history, while Gracia jumped to fourth on the school’s performance list with her effort.

In the men’s high hurdles, three Clemson athletes advanced to the finals. Michael Simmerson (14.33) also advanced out of the prelims.

Clemson had three winners in the Friday night distance carnival. Nathan Hendershot improved his personal best in the 800 and won with a time of 1:49.76, one of the top 10 times in school history. Ty McCormack won the men’s steeplechase with a time of 9:12.84.

Kim Ruck capped the night with a victory in the 5K, which came hours after she earned her undergraduate degree in health science. Ruck, the No. 1 qualifier for the 10K in the East Region, posted a time of 16:53.36 Friday evening to cruise to the victory. Ruck was one of nine current and former track & field athletes to graduate Friday.

Listen to Ruck share her thoughts on graduation, the future, and her win in Friday’s 5K.

Lauren Terstappen of Phoenixville, PA was runner-up in the women’s pole vault. The freshman All-ACC performer went over the bar at 13’1.5″. Fellow freshman Christy Gasparino cleared 12’5.5″ on Friday.

Sinkler hit a big jump of 21’9.5″ on her first attempt of the preliminary round. The wind was strong, but the +3.3 reading was legal for NCAA purposes and school record purposes. She established the facility record and broke her own personal best, also a Clemson record, with the effort. Jasmine Brunson finished third with a personal best. She hit a jump of 20’4.25″ in the prelims, good enough for fifth in the Clemson record books.

Josh Fowler was runner-up in the men’s long jump. He hit a wind-aided mark of 25’5.25″, just before a small weather system moved into the area. Will Robinson hit a legal personal best 24’11” in the preliminary round, good enough for a fourth-place effort. His mark tied for eighth-best in Clemson history.

Brittney Waller jumped into the East Region rankings for the discus throw Friday. The sophomore out of J.L. Mann High School in Greenville, SC won with a mark of 167’6.25″ on her first attempt. She was 52nd in the East Region prior to Friday’s performance, but she should be firmly in the field for the NCAA East Preliminary Round in two weeks in both the discus and hammer.

Stephen White was equally impressive in the men’s discus throw. The red-shirt junior out of Beaufort, SC was runner-up in the event with a personal best mark of 165’2″. His mark was good enough for eighth on the all-time performance list for the Tigers, and it also moved him up the rankings within the East Region.

Danielle Curry was runner-up in the women’s shot put. The Ohio native had a best of 48’2.5″ on Friday. Liane Weber was fourth with a shot put of 41’3.25″, while Karine Farias was sixth at 38’9.5″. The men’s shot put will be held Saturday.

The teams return to action Saturday to wrap up the final regular season meet of the outdoor schedule. The first field event will be the men’s javelin throw at 10:00 AM and the first track event will be the women’s 4x100m relay at 1:00 PM.