School Records Fall Friday at Virginia Tech

CLEMSON, S.C. — A pair of women’s school records fell Friday as Clemson track & field posted four individual wins in an outstanding first day of the Virginia Tech Invitational in Blacksburg, Va. Jamaica natives Olivia James and Natoya Goule set Clemson marks in the 500 and 1000 meters, respectively. Myasia Jacobs and Grace Barnett added wins in the 60 and 3000, respectively, while Tevin Hester captured the men’s 60 in season-best fashion.

Goule shattered Clemson’s 1000-meter record by over six seconds. She clocked a time of 2:43.03 to easily win Friday. James followed minutes later with a time of 1:11.24, finishing second overall but overtaking Marlena Wesh for the school record in the 500.

Jacobs and Barnett posted personal bests Friday. Jacobs was up first, scoring a win in the 60 dash with a time of 7.40 — No. 6 in Clemson history. Barnett followed by clocking a time of 9:56.79, the only sub-10 minute runner in the event Friday.

Hester was Clemson’s lone men’s winner, but he produced a season-best 6.62 in a fast 60-meter final at Rector Field House. His time puts him in sole possession of the No. 2 time in the country.

The Clemson men collected six additional top-five finishes Friday, highlighted by Roland Hakes’ personal best in a 3K runner-up effort (8:25.42). In addition, Justin Johnson (7.88) and Elijah Britton (7.95) were strong in their first 60-meter hurdles races of the young season.

On the women’s side, Samantha Elliott took second in the 60 hurdles. She posted a Clemson-best time of 8.43, good enough for 10^th in the nation.