Two Clemson Track And Field Athletes Lead Nation In Their Respective Events

April 13, 2005

Two of Clemson’s track and field athletes currently lead the nation in their respective events. Gisele Oliveira is the nation’s leader in the triple jump, while Ronald Richards has turned in the nation’s best performance in the 200m dash. Several other Lady Tiger and Tiger track and field athletes are on the regional qualifying list as well.

Oliveira, the NCAA Indoor Champion in the triple jump in 2005, recorded a career-best mark of 45’9″/13.94m at the Clemson Invitational held last weekend. The senior from Porto Alegre, Brazil, set Clemson’s Rock Norman Track record as well as the Clemson outdoor record with that performance. In addition to her triple jump mark, Oliveira also posted a regional qualifying mark in the long jump with a leap of 20’3″/6.17m. Her outstanding performance over the weekend was recognized by the ACC, as she was named the women’s performer of the week for the league.

Richards is the national leader in the 200m dash with his career-best time of 20.64 also set at the Clemson Invitational last Saturday. The senior from Alexandria, VA, also ranks among the nation’s best in the 100m. He has turned in a season-best performance of 10.24 in the 100m dash at two meets this season, and is currently tied for fifth in the nation with that mark. Richards was named the men’s ACC Co-Performer of the Week for his performances over the weekend.

Silja Ulfarsdottir, Sara Young and the Lady Tigers’ 4x100m relay team have also turned in regional qualifying marks and are ranked on the national performance list. Ulfarsdottir, a senior from Reykjavic, Iceland, recorded a season-best time of 59.18 in the 400m hurdles at the Clemson Invitational. It is the 17th-fastest time in the nation so far this year. Young, a sophomore pole vaulter from Greenwood, SC, cleared a season-high 12’5.5″/3.80m at the Clemson Relays on March 25. That mark ties for 30th on the national list. The Lady Tigers’ 4x100m relay team has also met the regional qualifying standard with its season-best time of 45.46.

On the men’s side, Roy Cheney and Rashad Gardner are regional qualifiers in the 110m hurdles. Cheney, a junior from Grovetown, GA, has a season-best time of 14.27 set at the Clemson Invitational. Gardner, a junior from Chesapeake, VA, recorded a season-best time of 14.32 at the Clemson Relays on March 26. In the 400m hurdles, three Tigers are listed among the regional qualifiers after their performances at the Clemson Invitational. Gardner ranks 16th on the national list with his time of 51.51, while Scott Kautz, a junior from Charleston, WV, posted a time of 51.64 to rank 19th. Cheney is also listed on the national list with a time of 52.18. The Tigers’ 4x100m relay team of Cheney, Richards, Mickey Sheats and George Kitchens qualified for the East Region Championships with a time of 40.37 at the Clemson Invitational. George Kitchens leap of 24’6.25″ in the long jump qualified him for the East Region Championships and ranks him tied for 19th in the nation. In the triple jump, Jason Bell entered the national list at 13th with a mark of 51’5.75″. Derek Gilson is a regional qualifier in the shot put with his mark of 55’3″, and Danny Alge qualified for the region meet in the hammer throw with his mark of 184’0″.

The Clemson track and field teams return to action this Saturday in the Solid Orange Classic at the Rock Norman Track and Field Complex.