Travis Padgett Sets National Standard in 100m Dash at Orange & Purple Classic

May 10, 2008

Clemson, SC – Travis Padgett set a school and facility record Saturday and turned in the fastest time in the nation this season in the 100m dash to highlight Clemson’s efforts at the Orange & Purple Classic. The junior speedster breezed past the field to a time of 9.96 seconds with a legal wind (1.2), the top collegiate time in the country and second-best time in the world this outdoor season.

Padgett’s effort also broke his own school record in the event, which was 10 seconds flat run as a freshman at the East Region Championships in 2006. He also broke the Rock Norman Track record, which had been a wind-aided 10.01 by former Olympian and NCAA champion Michael Green in 1993.

Sophomore C.J. Spiller posted his first regional-qualifying time of the season in the 100m dash, running a personal best time of 10.33 seconds. He finished runner-up Saturday. Trenton Guy was eighth place after a season-best 10.62 in the event.

The 4x100m relay team put together an outstanding time on Saturday, a season-best 39.23. The lineup was composed of Trenton Guy, Jacoby Ford, Spiller, and Padgett. Football standout Spiller ran an outstanding third leg, solidifying Clemson’s position as the top team in the race.

Miller Moss came up just shy in his bid to qualify for the East Region meet in the quarter mile. The red-shirt freshman did, however, record a personal best with a time of 47.62. He placed fourth, while Cowin Mills (47.85) was fifth overall. Mills (22.11) was 11th overall in the 200m dash as well.

Matt Clark was third place in the 1500m run Saturday in his final competition at Rock Norman Track. Clark, who earned his undergraduate degree Friday, posted a time of 3:57.32. Matt Hughes, a freshman out of Canada, was fourth at 3:58.15.

Mike Feathers was eighth in the 110m hurdles Saturday, posting a time of 15.15 seconds. In the 400m hurdles, Travis Swaggard took first place after posting a time of 52.68. He owns a regional-qualifying time of 52.48 from earlier this season.

George Fields did not compete as scheduled in the long jump after recovering from an illness. Mike Feathers competed in the prelims before running the hurdles. He had a jump of 20’5″ and was sixth place. Josh Fowler, a regional qualifier in the triple jump, competed Saturday and had a fifth-place effort at 48’5.5″.

Mitch Greeley cleared 17’6.5″ on his first attempt to win the pole vault with relative ease. He then attempted to break the facility record and personal best at a height of 18’3.25″. On the third try, Greeley came very close to achieving both. However, he came up short of completing the jump. Chris Spear tied for second after matching his season-best of 17’0.75″.

Alex Padgett was runner-up in the hammer throw. He had a toss of 185’2″, just short of the regional qualifying standard in the event. Timothy Morse of Radford won with a throw of 206’1″. Scott Pauga was just shy of his bid for a regional-qualifying effort in the javelin, finishing runner-up after a personal best throw of 199’6″.

The Tigers return to action next weekend at the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta, GA. The East Region Championships, which serve as the qualifier for the NCAA Championships, will be held May 30-31 in Tallahassee, FL.