ATLANTA – The Clemson track and field team began its 2022 outdoor season with a bang at the Yellow Jacket Invitational, racking up seven total wins. Both the men and women had a relay team win the 4×400 meter relay. Friday’s events were highlighted by Antoinette Van der Merwe’s 100 meter hurdles win, while Saturday saw Andre Wright move up Clemson’s all-time top-10 list in the triple jump.
“This is a good start to our outdoor season,” remarked Program Director Mark Elliott. “This is a continuation of us getting better each week from the indoor season.”
SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS
Andre Wright’s 15.91 meter triple jump won the event and moved him into third on the school’s top-10 list. He was trailed by DJ Ledell who finished second in the event with a 15.72 mark.
The Tigers came out on top of the women’s triple jump as well, as Harleigh White set a mark of 13.12 meters, which was over one meter further than the runner-up in the event.
The Clemson women showed out in the 400 meter dash, as Courtney Williams won the event with a 53.99 second time, while KK Gadson followed close behind and finished as the runner-up posting a 54.13.
KK Gadson, Courtney Williams, Areya Campbell and Kenya Thompson combined to pull off a 3:38.22 to post the best time of 13 groups in the 4×400 meter relay.
The men’s group of Alocius Kipngetich, Aman Thornton, Fabian Hewitt and Tarees Rhoden completed the relay in just 3:10.36 to win the event as well.
FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS
Antoinette Van der Merwe won the 100 meter hurdles event with a 13.43 time, best out of the pool of 24. Her mark was over .2 seconds faster than that of the runner-up.
Caroline Johnston won the women’s long jump with a leap of 5.87 meters, achieved on her final attempt. The mark ties her number set at this year’s ACC Indoor Championships.
Serena Clark and Courtney Williams finished neck and neck for second and third place in the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.86 seconds.
Up next, the Tigers travel to Austin for the Texas Relays, beginning on March 23 with competition ongoing through March 26.
