Tigers Qualify Eight for NCAA Indoor Championships

CLEMSON, S.C. — Seven members of Clemson’s women’s track & field team and Tevin Hester from the men’s program earned bids to the NCAA Indoor Championships, announced late Tuesday evening. The championship meet is set for March 11-12 in Birmingham, Ala.

The women’s team qualified four individuals and its distance medley relay. Myasia Jacobs earned her first NCAA berth in the 60 dash, while sprint mate Sabria Hadley made the field in the 200. It was Hadley’s first individual bid.

Also on the track, redshirt sophomore Grace Barnett was included among 16 athletes in the mile. She set the school standard in the event this season. Barnett will also run with the DMR, alongside Olivia James and two freshmen — Kaley Ciluffo and Ersula Farrow. The group set the school record this season and won the ACC title last weekend, a first in over 20 years.

Anasterasia Terrell, also a first-time qualifier, is the lone field representative in the triple jump.

“Our goal is for the women be in the top 20 in the nation,” said coach Mark Elliott. “With a nationally-ranked DMR, plus Myasia Jacobs coming on strong, we have the potential. There are exceptional athletes in every event, but at this point everyone has an opportunity to score. You’ve got to do it on the day it counts.”

Hester has made it count for the men’s team for years. A six-time All-American, the senior sprinter earned his fourth straight bid in the 60, while also making the field in the 200 a second straight year.

“On the men’s side, our hope is obviously to have more people join Tevin at future championships,” Elliott said. “He’s a consummate national guy and he’s the horse we’ve got to ride next week.

“Both teams are young and have shown that we can be among the best in the ACC, but now it’s time to make a jump on a national scale. That comes through recruiting and by coaching up the athletes with potential. The future is bright.”