Weber Earns Second Career ACC Pentathlon Crown Thursday

Feb. 26, 2009

Blacksburg, VA – Clemson junior Liane Weber earned her second career ACC championship Thursday in the pentathlon and propelled the Tiger women’s team into the lead after day one at the conference meet. Weber had a school-record total of 4,218 points, just six shy of the ACC pentathlon record set in 2006.

The Tigers took the top two spots Thursday in the five-event competition, as fellow international junior Patricia Mamona earned All-ACC recognition in her first try with the multi-events. She also earned a spot at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a total of 4,081 points. Clemson leads the way after one event on the women’s side with 18 points, while NC State recorded six, and Maryland and Virginia five.

“We had a good first day at the ACC Championships,” said Lawrence Johnson, Clemson’s first-year Director of Track & Field. “The multi-event athletes showed up determined to compete. Getting first and second place in the pentathlon was huge for our women’s program.”

Mamona was the top performer in the 60m hurdles for Clemson, turning out a time of 8.47, just three hundredths ahead of Golladay. Weber had a personal best in the event with a time of 8.68. In the high jump, Buchholz cleared a personal best 5’8.5″. She ranks fifth on the school’s all-time performance list with her effort. She was second-best in the high jump among the multi-event athletes. Weber was solid, clearing 5’7.25″, while Mamona’s best mark was 5’5″.

The shot put was a strong event for Weber, who posted a season-best mark of 38’3.25″ and was third overall. Buchholz showed some resiliency in the shot put. After fouls on her first two attempts, she hit a distance of 35’1.75″ for a solid showing.

The long jump and 800m were strong for both Weber and Mamona, as they put distance on the field in the final two events. Mamona recorded a personal best in the long jump at 20’4.5″, a figure that ranks seventh-best in school history. Weber fouled on two jumps, but her second attempt was 19’8.25″, a personal best. She then won the 800m in outstanding fashion, clocking a 2:15.65, shattering her previous best. Mamona (2:19.70), now a seven-time All-ACC performer for Clemson, had the third-best 800m time.

Through the completion of four events in the men’s heptathlon, Joey O’Rourke is 11th in the standings with 2,554 points.

Day two of the ACC Indoor Championships gets underway Friday at 12:00 noon with the 60m hurdles portion of the heptathlon. The pole vault and 1000m run will be the final two events of the heptathlon. A good portion of the track & field events will also begin Friday, including the 60m dash which will feature national leader Jacoby Ford from the Clemson men’s team.

“Our number one objective for Friday is to get people qualified for finals,” Johnson said.