Tigers Capture Three Individual Titles in Well-Rounded Saturday Effort

CLEMSON, S.C. – The men’s and women’s track and field program concluded the Clemson Invitational against Georgia Tech, Georgia and Kennesaw State on Saturday with a series of standout performances and personal bests. Laurie Barton (800 meters), Josie Wirtz (3K) and Harleigh White (Triple Jump) claimed victories on the day, with each notching season bests in their respective events. As a program, the men and women combined for 17 indoor personal bests and 29 season bests.

The men had a strong showing in the field, with Roje Stona and Zico Campbell each surpassing 16.8 meters in the shot put. Stona finished 3rd in the event, while Campbell’s career-best 16.83-meter toss set a new personal best. Anthony Hamilton tied his personal best in the high jump, clearing 2.15 meters, and finishing fourth overall. 

Wirtz’s 10:00.39 in the 3K was more than seven seconds faster than her previous career best in the event. Michael Smith (8:33.95) and Marlin Young (8:37.33) each picked up top-ten finishes while setting new personal bests in the men’s 3K. 

The Tigers entered two groups into the women’s 4×400, and took the top two spots with times of 3:45.09 and 3:46.11, more than two seconds faster than their performance in last week’s Orange and Purple Elite. The men’s 4×400 groups finished second and fifth. The Tigers’ top group of Rayan Holmes, Fabian Hewitt, Giano Roberts, and Terryon Conwell ran 3:12.28, just over a second off the program’s 3:11.02 fourth-place performance at the 2020 ACC Indoor Championships.

Director of Track & Field Mark Elliott

“I can see the progress in the groups. We have some athletes nationally ranked and it’s good to see that at this early stage in the season. Going to Virginia Tech next week, let’s see if we can build on this and keep getting better as the season goes on.”

Saturday's Highlights

• Jessica Johnson and Sofia De Coteau each equaled their season’s best in the women’s high jump, respectively clearing 1.55 meters (5-1) and 1.60 meters (5-3).
• In her Clemson debut, Ken’Naria Gadson led the way for Clemson in the women’s 300 meters, earning a personal best of 39.68 to finish third overall.
• Giano Roberts led the way for the Tigers in his debut at 300 meters, edging out Rayan Holmes with his time of 34.32, finishing first among collegiate performers in the event.
• Laurie Barton was aggressive from the gun in the women’s 800 meters and was rewarded with a time of 2:05.10 to finish first overall.
• Cole Myers continued a strong start to the season as the freshman was the top Clemson runner in the 800 meters, running 1:56.59 to finish third overall.
• Michael Smith was one of four Tigers to earn a personal best in the 3k this afternoon. 
• Anthony Hamilton tied his personal best while setting a season’s best mark of 2.15 meters (7-0.5) in the men’s high jump. Hamilton remains at No. 10 on the Tigers’ all-time list for the event. 

Up Next

Clemson’s next action will come on the road in Blacksburg, Va., as the Tigers compete at the Hokie Invitational at Rector Field House on Jan. 22-23. The meet will be Clemson’s first time competing on the road during the 2021 indoor campaign.

For all of the most up-to-date information regarding Clemson’s Track & Field programs, be sure to reference clemsontigers.com and follow @ClemsonTrackXC on Twitter.