Padgett Leads Tiger Efforts at Clemson Relays

March 24, 2007

Clemson, SC – The men’s track & field team had a solid showing Saturday at the Clemson Relays, the first outdoor event at home for the Tigers. Four student-athletes from Clemson posted regional-qualifying marks on Saturday, led by Travis Padgett in two separate events. The NCAA 60m champion posted regional-qualifying marks in the 100m dash as well as 4x100m relay.

Padgett began the race close to the pack, but pulled away midway through to a time of 10.22 seconds. Corey Brown also qualified for regionals in the 100m after he posted a personal best time of 10.47. Gwantaveus Anderson was sixth overall at 10.84.

The 4x100m relay team qualified for regionals Saturday after easily winning over the field. Anderson, Brown, Padgett, and Cowin Mills posted a time of 40.33. The Tigers took the lead for good on Padgett’s third leg effort. In the 4x200m relay, the same team finished on top again. Clemson’s time was 1:23.94.

In the 1500m, Sean Reilly placed second with a time of 4:07.15. The distance medley relay team of Ryan Koontz, Will Noble, and Bryce Iverson placed second on Saturday with a time of 10:14.22.

In the 110m hurdles, Koontz placed second with a time of 14.33. It marked a personal best for the senior multi-event athlete. Joey O’Rourke was fifth with a time of 15.61 in that event. Andrew Porter claimed the 400m title with a time of 52.55, just shy of a regional mark. Travis Swaggard posted a time of 54.48 and placed third.

Jay Lumpkins led the field in the grueling 10,000m competition Saturday for most of the race. However, he finished the 25-lap race as runner-up with a time of 32:46.93. Furman’s Joseph Tenini made a late charge and passed him for first place in the final minute.

In the 4x1500m relay, Bryce Iverson and Will Noble helped the Tigers to the lead through the middle two legs of the race. From there, Sam Bryfczynski was unable to hold off a late surge from Winthrop’s squad. The Tigers had a time of 16:11.20.

Adam Linkenauger matched a regional standard by clearing 6’10.75″ in the high jump. He won the competition Saturday. George Kitchens (23’10”).

Kenny Knox (fifth) also competed for the Tigers.

Three men’s athletes competed in the javelin throw, led by Matt Feiling with a fifth-place showing. He hit a mark of 160’2″, finishing ahead of teammates Koontz (156’5″, seventh) and O’Rourke (12th place). Feiling was sixth in the discus (135’11”) as well.

The Tigers return to action next weekend at the Yellow Jacket Invitational in Atlanta, GA.