Photos by Carl Ackerman and Melina AlbertiClemson Athletic Communications
RESULTS
CLEMSON, S.C. – The Clemson track & field team competed for the first time in 34 days on Friday at the Tigers’ second meet of the 2018-19 season, the Orange & Purple Elite. Clemson head coach Mark Elliott was particularly impressed with several performances from a handful of newcomers across a variety of events.
“Some of our incoming student-athletes such as Fabian [Hewitt] in the 300m and the 60m showed today that he has good range,” said Mark Elliott. “LaFranz [Campbell] basically stepped straight off the plane and ran down to the wire with the ACC champion in the hurdles.”
Sophomore transfer Fabian Hewitt set Clemson’s No. 4 in the 300m with a time of 33.78 seconds. Hewitt shattered his previous best and team-leading time of 34.30, which he set in the Tigers’ opening meet on Dec. 8, 2018, despite also competing in the 60m dash earlier in the day. In the 60m hurdles, LaFranz Campbell went toe-to-toe with the reigning ACC champion and ACC Freshman of the Year, Florida State’s Trey Cunningham. Campbell (7.85), a sophomore transfer from Wiley College finished just 0.03 seconds behind Cunningham to place third in Friday’s finals in his first-ever Division I meet. In addition to the newcomers, Clemson saw solid performances from a few returners as well, including senior John Lewis and junior Joe Cline. Lewis just barely missed his own program and facility record in the 1000m, which he set last season. Lewis crossed the finish line at the 2:22.63 mark to place second overall. In the cage, Cline claimed his second PR of the 2018-19 season with a heave 17.99m (59-0) to secure his second weight throw win of the season.
On the women’s side, freshman Kenya Livingston won her first collegiate high jump event. The Charlotte, North Carolina native cleared a best height of 1.75m (5-8.75).
“Kenya [Livingston] was impressive today. While she’s not at her PR quite yet, it was good to see her win her first high jump. Those things show recruiting went well this offseason.”
In just her second meet as a Tiger sophomore Janell Fullerton moved to No. 4 all-time in Clemson history in the shot put. Fullerton registered a best heave of 15.06m (49-5) on her fourth toss of the day to place second overall. Right behind Fullerton was freshman Veronica Fraley, who also etched her name into the Clemson record book. The Raleigh, North Carolina native posted the program’s No. 10 mark with a distance of 14.16m (47-8), which was good for sixth-place overall.
Making her 2019 indoor debut and first appearance since the 2018 NCAA Cross Country Championships was Logan Morris in the 1000m. In her first-ever career 1000m, Morris placed fourth overall with a time of 2:55.91, less than two seconds away from catching the first-place finisher.
“We’re coming off a long break with the holidays and there were some people that kept themselves in good shape over break, and then some that did not. We’ll be back here again next week and we look forward to getting after it.”
Of Note
Next
Clemson Invitational | Jan. 18-19 | Clemson Indoor Track & Field Complex
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