Track And Field Teams To Host Heptathlon And Pentathlon Championships This Weekend

Jan. 30, 2004

The Clemson men’s and women’s track and field teams will host the Clemson Heptathlon and Pentathlon Championships this Friday and Saturday at the Clemson Indoor Track and Field Facility. The meet is slated to begin with the pentathlon 60m hurdles at 1:30 PM on Friday. On Saturday, action resumes with the heptathlon 60m hurdles at 11:00 AM and will conclude after the 1000m run scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM.

Thirty-one athletes from 11 universities will compete in Clemson on Friday and Saturday. This meet will present the first opportunity for collegiate athletes to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the heptathlon and pentathlon. The 2004 season marks the first year of heptathlon and pentathlon competition at the NCAA Championships, and the events will be contested during most conference meets this year.

This weekend’s field includes the 2003 NCAA Champion in the decathlon, Stephen Harris, as well as several other NCAA qualifiers and conference champions. Clemson senior Ryan Koontz was the JUCO national champion in the decathlon, while Brent Hobbs and Ryan Hunter were scorers in the decathlon at the 2003 ACC Championships. Other men’s athletes to watch include Tennessee’s Blake Sabo and Alex Hritcu, Auburn’s Maurice Smith and Savante Stringfellow. Smith finished third in the decathlon at the NCAA Championships a year ago, while Hritcu and Sabo were NCAA qualifiers in the decathlon in 2003. Stringfellow is a former USATF long jump champion.

On the women’s side, three Lady Tigers will compete in the pentathlon for the first time. Christina Moore, Michelle Rogers will represent Clemson on Friday. Clemson’s athletes will be joined by several NCAA qualifiers, including Gardner-Webb’s Tara Stephenson, Western Carolina’s Laura Tieszen and Jacksonville’s Andrea Pressley. Pressley is a two-time NCAA qualifier in the heptathlon, while Stephenson qualified in the event a year ago. Tieszen was an NCAA qualifier in the pole vault in 2003.

Schedule for January 30-31

Friday, Jan. 30Pentathlon1:30 PM - 60m Hurdles2:10 PM - High Jump3:40 PM - Shot Put4:40 PM - Long Jump5:50 PM - 800mHeptathlon3:00 PM - 60m Dash3:40 PM - Long Jump4:40 PM - Shot Put5:45 PM - High Jump

Saturday, Jan. 31 Heptathlon 11:00 AM – 60m Hurdles 12:00 PM – Pole Vault 2:00 PM – 1,000m Run