Spiller’s 60m Dash Win Highlights Day One for Clemson at Tiger Paw Invitational

by Press Release - Sat Feb 14 01:29:24 GMT-04:00 2009

Clemson, SC – Two-sport athlete C.J. Spiller won the 60m dash Friday at the Tiger Paw Invitational to lead Clemson’s track & field teams on day one of the third home meet this season. Spiller posted an NCAA qualifying time in the final and was one of four Tigers to claim an individual event title on Friday.

Spiller easily won the opening heat in the 60m dash, turning in a time of 6.78. In the final, he used a good start and went on to a relatively easy victory after crossing the finish line with an NCAA provisional time of 6.74. His best time of the season is a 6.71, run last weekend in Virginia Tech. Spiller’s personal best in the event is 6.58, which he accomplished last season in a meet at North Carolina.

Kristine Scott placed third in the women’s 60m dash. The Orlando, FL native produced a time of 7.60 in the prelims, then had a 7.66 in the final to edge Pat Springs of Charlotte.

Caroline Kennedy won the pole vault with an outstanding effort. The junior and former All-ACC performer in the event cleared 12’8.25” to tie for first place. She and Sallie Gurganus of South Carolina dueled for a 13’0” clearance, but both fell short in three tries. Kennedy’s 12’8.25”

mark was a personal best and also elevated her to second on Clemson’s all-time indoor pole vault performance list behind only Beth Jordan (12’9.5” in 2006).

Kennedy was not the only Tiger to flourish in the pole vault, as several competitors recorded personal bests in the event coached by assistant Josh Langley. Emily Barlage finished fourth Friday with a personal best clearance of 12’4.5”. She edged teammate Amy Morrison, who also cleared 12’4.5” for a personal best. Both now rank in a tie for sixth place on the school’s all-time list. Kathleen Majester cleared 11’4.5” and was 12th in just her third career meet after joining the team from the Tiger cheerleading squad.

Nicole Lomnicka continues to progress in the weight throw for the Clemson women’s team. The freshman from Slovakia topped her personal best for the fourth consecutive meet in the 20-pound event. She recorded a toss of 60’8” and easily won the event for the Tigers. She ranks third in school history in the weight throw. Alex Padgett finished eighth (56’3”) in the men’s 35-pound throw.

Candice Johnson won the women’s 800m run with a career-best time. The senior from Duncan, SC won the opening section at 2:13.87, which was over two seconds better than her previous best time in the event. Jasen Turnbull was sixth in the men’s race, turning in a time of 1:56.21. In the women’s 5000m run, sophomore Abby Iselborn put together a time of

18:54.71 and finished in fourth position.

The meet will wrap up on Saturday. The first event of the day will be the women’s shot put at 9:00 AM. The first running event will be the women’s mile at 12:45 PM.