PHILADELPHIA – Despite heavy rainfall forcing numerous weather delays, Clemson’s Rebekah Smith, Aliyah Mallard, Kendra Clarke and Andrea Foster were able register a third-place finish in the Championship of America (CoA) Sprint Medley Relay at the 125th Penn Relays Friday. The Tigers collectively ran 3:48.40 in the 200m-200m-400m-800m format on the wet track at the historic Franklin Field.
The Tiger relays also impressed throughout the day, posting three additional top-4 relay finishes.
Alongside Smith and Mallard, Sarah Hill and Zeniyah Lawrence took 44.84 seconds to complete one lap around in the CoA 4x100m Relay. Friday’s 4x100m effort on the women’s side was the Tigers’ third best of 2019. The men’s 4x100m Relay, which consisted of the usual clan: Alex Sands, Marcus Parker, Fabian Hewitt and Deonte Tolbert, earned a berth in Saturday’s CoA race, which is slated for 1:52 p.m. The men placed second overall in Friday’s college section after running 39.97.
Despite the weather delays and having ran in the 4x100m, Smith, Mallard, Hill and Lawrence squeezed a fourth-place finish in the 4x200m relay. The group clocked 1:36.23.
Two individuals in Hill (100m, 11.77) and LaFranz Campbell (110mH, 13.85) qualified for CoA races, which are slated for Saturday, in their respective events. Both Campbell and the nation’s leader in the event, Isaiah Moore of South Carolina rang up 13.85 – in different heats – in a battle for Palmetto bragging rights. Hill’s race is slated for 3:35 p.m. Saturday, while Campbell will give it a go at 3:20 p.m.
Across the street, the Tigers saw more consistent performances from the throws group. Freshman Veronica Fraley nearly matched her PR in the discus with a best toss of 52.41m (171-11) to place fourth overall.
On the men’s side, Grant Voeks registered a fifth-place finish with a respectable 17.85m (58-6.75) effort.
Clemson rounds out Penn Relays action Saturday, April 27 beginning at 10 a.m.
Women’s CoA 4x100m Relay4. Sarah Hill, Rebekah Smith, Zeniyah Lawrence, Aliyah Mallard, 44.84
Men’s College 4x100m Relay2. Alex Sands, Marcus Parker, Fabian Hewitt, Deonte Tolbert, 39.97; qualified for Saturday’s CoA (1:52 p.m.)
Women’s CoA 4x200m Relay4. Rebekah Smith, Aliyah Mallard, Sarah Hill, Zeniyah Lawrence, 1:36.23
Women’s CoA Sprint Medley Relay3. Rebekah Smith, Aliyah Mallard, Kendra Clarke, Andrea Foster, 3:48.40
Men’s CoA Sprint Medley Relay6. Alex Sands, Fabian Hewitt, Oliver Lloyd, John Lewis, 3:26.73
Women’s 100m Dash8. Sarah Hill, 11.77; qualified for Saturday’s CoA (3:35 p.m.)
Men’s College 110mH2. LaFranz Campbell, 13.85; qualified for Saturday’s CoA (3:20 p.m.)
Women’s Championship Triple Jump7. Harleigh White, 11.76m (38-7)9. Kenya Livingston, 11.17m (36-7.75)
Women’s Championship Discus4. Veronica Fraley, 52.41m (171-11)
Men’s Championship Shot Put5. Grant Voeks, 17.85m (58-6.75)
Men’s College Long Jump11. DJ Ledell, 6.94m (22-9.25)
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