Tiger Track And Field Posts Six First-Place Finishes In Season Opener

Dec. 8, 2002

BOONE, N.C. – The Clemson men’s track and field team opened its 2002-03 season with six first-place finishes and a provisional qualifier Saturday at the Appalachian State Indoor Meet. Senior Jacey Harper led the Tigers with two first-place finishes.

Harper posted a provisional qualifying time of 6.21 in the 55m dash, and also helped Clemson claim the 4x400m relay event. Griffin placed fourth in the 55m with a time of 6.31, and Grafton Ifill was seventh in 6.46. Clemson picked up another win in the 55m hurdles, as Scott Kautz recorded a time of 7.75 to claim the race. Brent Hobbs posted a time of 7.76 to finish second, and Roy Cheney was third with a time of 7.81. George Kitchens placed sixth (51.40), and Kautz was eighth in 51.52. Marcus Hodge was the top finisher in the 800m, recording a time of 1:55.52, and Garrick Copes placed third in 1:58.25. Mike Barton won the one mile run with a time of 4:22.26, and the Tigers’ 4x400m relay team of Copes, Harper, Hodge and Otto Spain won that event in 3:19.67.

In the field events, Matt Morgan placed second in the high jump, clearing 6’2″/1.88m, while Brent Hobbs cleared the same height, finishing fourth. Chris Gross was the runner-up in the pole vault with a mark of 15’0″/4.57m, while Brent Hobbs placed seventh (21’11.75″/6.70m). Derek Gilson posted a second-place finish in the weight throw with a mark of 49’7.75″/15.13, and led the Tigers in the shot put with a fifth-place finish and mark of 47’3″/14.40m.

The Tigers return to action Jan. 17-18, as Clemson travels to Lexington, KY, for the Kentucky Invitational.

Clemson Results 55mJacey Harper (1) – 6.21, (p) 6.22Larry Griffin (4) – 6.31, (p) 6.31 Grafton Ifill (7) – 6.46, (p) 6.44Otto Spain (p) – 6.44 Robert Ibeh (p) – 6.64 55m Hurdles Scott Kautz (1) – 7.75, (p) 7.85 Brent Hobbs (2) – 7.76, (p) 7.81 Roy Cheney (3) – 7.81, (p) 7.56Rick Hill (4) – 7.83, (p) 7.89 Rashad Gardner (6) – 7.96, (p) 7.67 400m Rashad Gardner (1) – 50.13 Roy Cheney (3) – 50.86 George Kitchens (6) – 51.40 Scott Kautz (8) – 51.52 800m Marcus Hodge (1) – 1:55.52Garrick Copes (3) – 1:58.25 One Mile Mike Barton (1) – 4:22.26 4x400m Relay Copes, Harper, Hodge, Spain (1) – 3:19.67 Ibeh, Kautz, Gardner, Ifill (3) – 3:22.23 High Jump Matt Morgan (T2) – 6’2″/1.88m Brent Hobbs (4) – 6’2″/1.88m Chris Gross (T8) – 5’10″/1.78m Pole Vault Chris Gross (2) – 15’0″/4.57m Andrew Kessler (3) – 15’0″/4.57m Ryan Hunter (4) – 15’0″/4.57mRick Hill (T15) – 11’11.75″/3.65m Long Jump George Kitchens (1) – 23’11.75″/7.31m Chris Gross (6) – 22’0.25″/6.71m Brent Hobbs (7) – 21’11.75″/6.70m Robert Ibeh (9) – 21’2.75″/6.47m Ryan Hunter (12) – 20’11.25″/6.38m Weight Throw Derek Gilson (5) – 49’7.75″/15.13m Shot Put Derek Gilson (5) – 47’3″/14.40mRick Hill (9) – 41’9.75″/12.74m Chris Gross (10) – 41’3.25″/12.58m Ryan Hunter (14) – 37’10″/11.53m