Tigers Bring Home 10 All-American Honors

June 7, 1999

BOISE, ID – The Clemson men’s and women’s track and field teams combined for ten All-America honors Friday in the third day of competition at the 1999 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Boise, Idaho.

Senior Nikkie Bouyer placed sixth with a time of 57.74 in the 400m Hurdles to earn the first individual All-America honor of her career. Bouyer has been a part of two All-America relay teams.

The women’s 4x100m relay team of sophomore Simone Brown, junior Shekera Weston, sophomore Lashonda Cutchin and Bouyer earned All-America status after placing seventh with a time of 44.63 in Friday’s final.

“We’re very excited for the young ladies and for the program to be back in the finals at this meet,” said women’s assistant coach Rodney Rothoff. “This will help us build for the future and help bring the strong track tradition back to Clemson. The growth that has occurred in this team over the past year has been tremendous. Nikkie just started the 400m hurdle event four weeks ago. To be the sixth best in the country is a tremendous accomplishment and a great way for her to end her career.”

Senior Davidson Gill also earned his first individual All-America honor, placing eighth in the 800m with a time of 1:49.95. “Davidson wasn’t even supposed to make the finals,” said men’s assistant coach Ralph White. “He’s more fatigued than some of our other athletes because he runs the 800m and the 4x400m relay. Still, finishing eighth in the country out of all the hundreds of athletes that run the event is a strong showing.”

The men’s 4x100m relay team of junior Charles Allen, senior Kenny Franklin, freshman Anthony Moorman and junior Shawn Crawford placed fifth with a time of 39.63. “The relay team ran well and just had one exchange that was off,” White said following the race. “Franklin has been injured and ran faster than we expected, so we weren’t ready for such a quick exchange.”

“I was proud of our athletes for making the finals,” said men’s head coach Bob Pollock. “We’re not running at full strength, but I can’t fault their effort. They have done a great job of competing; however, to score big we’re going to have to step up a notch.”

Both Shekera Weston and Shawn Crawford advanced to the finals in the 200m. Weston posted a personal-best 22.91 to place fourth in her heat, and Crawford advanced after placing third in his heat at 20.71.

The meet wraps up on Saturday, when the Tigers will competed in several finals. Freshman Ato Modibo, the indoor national champion, will go for the outdoor title in the 400m. Both the women’s and the men’s 4x400m relay teams will compete for the outdoor championships.

CLEMSON SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY’S FINALS

        7:00 p.m.   Men's 400m             (Ato Modibo)        8:00 p.m.   Women's 200m           (Shekera Weston)        8:10 p.m.   Men's 200m             (Shawn Crawford)        9:10 p.m.   Women's 4x400m relay   (Cutchin, Bouyer, Brown, Weston)        9:20 p.m.   Men's 4x400m relay     (Allen, Franklin, Gill, Modibo)