Ruck’s 5K Victory Highlights Day One at Pepsi Florida Relays for Clemson Track & Field

April 2, 2010

GAINESVILLE, FL – Clemson sophomore Kim Ruck won the women’s 5K on Friday to highlight the first day of action for the Tiger track & field teams at the Pepsi Florida Relays, held at Percy Beard Track. Ruck, an indoor All-American in the event, won by over nine seconds over her closest competitor.

Ruck jumped to the No. 3 spot in Clemson’s record books for the event after crossing the finish line with a time of 16:12.05. It was the first outdoor meet of the season for Ruck, who finished seventh at NCAAs in the event last month.

Michaylin Golladay was a big story for the Tiger program on Friday, turning in one of her best meet performances as a collegian. The red-shirt junior from Upper Marlboro, MD posted a time of 23.63 in the 200m dash, tied for best on the team this season and ninth-best in Clemson history. She finished eighth overall. Golladay also ran a personal best in the 100m hurdles, placing ninth with a time of 13.44. Her time is tied for second-best in school history with Polly Hardy (2008) and Kyana Elder (2001).

In the men’s high hurdles, freshman Claudio Delli Carpini was impressive in winning his heat and finishing with the 10th-best time of the day (14.31). In the women’s intermediate hurdles, Sonni Austin improved on her season best and ran a time of 59.29. Her time ranks ninth in Clemson history.

Clemson debuted its top group of performers in the 100m dash Friday. In the women’s race, Stormy Kendrick won her heat and was 16th out of 55 competitors with a time of 11.70. Kristine Scott was right behind with a time of 11.76. In the men’s race, Justin Murdock was ninth with a wind-aided 10.40. Warren Fraser, a freshman from the Bahamas, had the 19th-best time at 10.53.

Brittany Pringley improved over last week’s showing in the women’s quarter mile, posting a time of 54.73 which was 13th fastest in the field of 47 sprinters.

In the men’s 1500m run, Chris Slate recorded a personal best and crossed the finish line in 3:50.74, good enough for 14th out of the field of 41 runners. Tyler Morey showed great progress in the 3000m steeplechase, turning out a time of 9:23.83, an improvement of nearly 18 seconds from a week ago.

Stephanie Buffo and Alyssa Kulik performed well for the Tigers in the women’s steeplechase. Buffo, the school record-holder entering the meet, improved on her personal best in the event with a time of 10:40.50. She finished third late Friday evening. Kulik was fifth at 10:44.60, moving her to No. 2 on the Tigers’ all-time list.

April Sinkler made her outdoor season debut for Clemson, finishing runner-up in the long jump with a mark of 21’0″. With the effort, she moved from sixth in the Tiger record books to second place behind school record-holder Monyetta Haynesworth. In the men’s long jump, two Tigers placed in the top 10. Josh Fowler was seventh with a windy jump of 23’10.75″, while multi-event All-American Miller Moss was ninth at 23’7.5″.

Caroline Kennedy tied for third in the pole vault Friday afternoon. The Florida native and Tiger senior had a clearance of 12’8″ on her first attempt, before falling in three tries at 13’1.75″.

Zach Berg continued his early-season momentum in the hammer throw. The senior from Tega Cay, SC placed seventh with a throw of 203’9″, just shy of his school record-tying mark from a week ago at Georgia Tech.

The teams return to action Saturday to conclude several field events, while also competing in multiple relays.