Select Men’s Track & Field Athletes to Compete in Tiger Multi-Event Open

May 6, 2007

Clemson, SC – The men’s track & field program will play host to a special Tiger Multi-Event Open on Monday and Tuesday of this week at the school’s Rock Norman outdoor complex. The decathlon will be spread out Monday and Tuesday.

Ryan Koontz hopes to improve on his NCAA provisional qualifying point total in the decathlon. The senior posted 7,139 in his runner-up finish last month at the ACC Championships. He ranks fourth in school history in the decathlon with 7,371 points, which he accomplished last season as a junior. Koontz leads the team in the 110m hurdles and ranks second on the Tigers’ squad this season in the high jump, shot put, and javelin throw.

Joey O’Rourke will also compete in the decathlon. Feathers scored for the Tigers with an eighth-place showing at the ACC Championships (6,425 points). His personal best in the decathlon was 6,642 last season.

O’Rourke placed 10th at the ACC outdoor meet in the decathlon and actually scored with an eighth-place finish at the ACC Indoor Championships in the heptathlon. O’Rourke posted 6,129 points in his first-ever collegiate decathlon last month at the league’s outdoor meet.

Chris Spear will compete in the pole vault portion of the decathlon in hopes of improving his chances of qualifying for the NCAA East Region Championships. The freshman from Montgomery, AL holds an outdoor best of 16’0.75″ this season.

The men’s track & field full squad will return to action next weekend, May 11-12, for the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta, GA.