Photos by Patrick Boling, Clemson Athletic Communications
AUSTIN, Texas – The Clemson women’s 4x100m relay team, which consisted of Rebekah Smith, Aliyah Mallard, Sarah Hill and Zeniyah Lawrence earned Second Team All-America honors Thursday evening at the 2019 NCAA Track & Field Championships. Additionally, Smith claimed her second All-America accolade of the day in the women’s 100m dash semifinal. Both the 4x100m and Smith achieved season bests. Upon the conclusion Thursday’s performances, the Tiger women’s 2019 campaign came to a close.
After the meet, Clemson head coach Mark Elliott said he was encouraged.
“We would have liked to see everyone who competed today get in and make the finals on Saturday,” said Elliott. “With Rebekah running her season best and the 4x100m running their season best, I was definitely pleased. I think the efforts today were great. We have everyone - except for one person - who competed today returning next year, and we’re excited about that. Again, I was just extremely pleased with the efforts across the board today.”
Smith, Mallard, Hill and Lawrence achieved their season best of 43.69 seconds, placing fifth in heat No. 1 and 13th overall. The tandem became the 11th 4x100m All-America recipients in the event in Clemson history. Clemson has now earned that achievement in eight of the last nine years, including the last three.
Smith captured her first career All-America distinction in an individual event. The junior ran her season best – 11.27 – to ring up a sixth-place finish in heat No. 2. Her time was good for 14th overall. For her career, Smith is now a four-time All-American, the most distinctions among all current Tigers.
Roje Stona and Grant Voeks conclude the Clemson men’s 2019 season Friday, June 7 at the Mike A. Myers Stadium. Stona and Voeks are set to compete in the discus finals, which are slated for 8:05 p.m. (EST) on ESPN3. Stona, a freshman, is the top-seeded thrower. This year marks the first time in Clemson history the Tigers have had two discus throwers at the same NCAA Championship.
Women’s 4x100m Relay (Semifinal)13. Rebekah Smith, Aliyah Mallard, Sarah Hill and Zeniyah Lawrence, 43.69; Second Team All-America … season best … placed fifth in heat 1
Women’s 100m Dash (Semifinal)14. Rebekah Smith, 11.27; Second Team All-America … season best … placed sixth in heat 2
Women’s 400mH (Semifinal)23. Lakeisha Warner; 1:02.29; placed eighth in heat 2
Women’s 4x400m Relay (Semifinal)22. Kendra Clarke, Aliyah Mallard, Andrea Foster, Kamryn McIntosh, 3:37.52; placed seventh in heat 1
Men’s 200m (Semifinal)17. Marcus Parker, 20.59; placed fifth in heat 1
Men’s 4x100m Relay (Semifinal)18. Fabian Hewitt, Marcus Parker, Alex Sands & Deonte Tolbert, 39.67; placed sixth in heat 2 … Clemson’s best overall finish at NCAA Championships since 2013
Men’s Long Jump (Final)11. Chris McBride, 7.73m (25-4.5); season best … third-best competitor in flight No. 1
