Track and Field Competes in First Day of NCAA Championships

June 3, 1999

BOISE, ID – The Clemson men’s and women’s track and field teams began competition on Wednesday at the 1999 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Boise, Idaho. The Tigers competed in six events and qualified athletes for the next round of competition in all six events.

Senior Nikkie Bouyer won her heat of the 400m hurdles and placed third overall with a time of 57.55 to advance to Friday’s finals. Senior Davidson Gill earned the last qualifying spot in the 800m, finishing third in his heat and eighth overall with a time of 1:49.91.

Both Clemson 4x100m relay teams advanced to the finals following Wednesday’s competition. The men’s team of Charles Allen, Kenny Franklin, Anthony Moorman and Shawn Crawford placed third in Heat 1 and sixth overall with a time of 39.73. The women’s team of Simone Brown, Shekera Weston, Lashonda Cutchin and Bouyer also finished third in Heat 3 and sixth overall with a time of 44.35. The top eight teams advanced to Friday’s finals.

The 200m preliminaries rounded out Wednesday’s events for Clemson. Junior Shekera Weston placed fourth in Heat 3 and 12th overall in the women’s competition with a time of 23.51, while junior Shawn Crawford finished second in Heat 4 in the men’s race with a time of 20.63. Both athletes advanced to the semifinals, which will be held Friday evening.

“Our 4x100m relay did a very good job to advance to the finals,” said head men’s coach Bob Pollock. “Davidson Gill ran a smart, technical race to qualify for the finals in the 800m. We should be in good shape for the rest of the meet. Our guys are focused and came into the meet prepared.”

Clemson will compete in five events on Friday. Freshman Kai Maull will begin the day for the Tigers at the long jump, then sophomore Sultan Tucker and freshman Todd Matthews will run in the preliminaries of the 110m hurdles. Freshman Ato Modibo, the indoor national champion in the 400m, will compete in the event at 6:25 p.m. The Tigers will complete the day with the women’s and men’s 4x400m relays.

Clemson Schedule of Events for Thursday, June 3, 1999

        5:00 p.m.       Men's Long Jump (Kai Maull)             5:20 p.m.       Men's 110m Hurdles (Sultan Tucker, Todd Matthews)        6:25 p.m.       Men's 400m (Ato Modibo)         7:35 p.m.       Women's 4x400m relay            7:55 p.m.       Men's 4x400m relay