ACC Outdoor Championship Review

What a great meet. One of the best things about the NCAA Outdoor season is the early conference championships. The ACC has long been one of the best conferences in track and field with great distance racing and sprinting, that was on display this past weekend. We watched as the usual suspects defended their crowns, the Clemson women and the Florida State men. For Clemson it was their fourth in a row and for Florida State it was their seventh.

Women

In the sprints Clemson dominated. Stormy Kendrick completed the individual double by winning the 100 and 200 in 11.25 and 23.09. Teammate Marlena Wash finished 2nd in the 200 with a time of 23.26 but claimed the victory in the 400 with a time of 52.28. Her performance was more than a second greater than her closest competitor.

Brianna Rollins fell just short of defeating Tierra Brown of Miami(FL) who won clocking in at 12.94 over Rollins 12.99. Rollins led a 2-3-4 finish in the 100 hurdles for Clemson. Brown was the expected winner in the 400 hurdles but much to every one suprise Latoya James of North Carolina took the crown in a time of 55.83. Brown finished second but needed medical attention near the finish line. Lets hope her season is now over after the great performance she gave over the weekend.

In the relays Clemson claimed the 4x100 relay in 44.27 with a team of Michaylin Golliday, Stormy Kendrick, Misha Morris and Jasmine Edgerson. North Carolina outlasted Clemson in the 4x400 relay with a winning time of 3:34.42. The team included Christine Johnson, LaToya James, Tasha Stanley and Zoey Russell.

In the distance events Clemson got a big lift from Kimberly Ruck who won the 10,000 meter run in a time of 33:47.85. Alyssa Kulik provided a solid 8 points to Clemson after a second place finish in the 3,000 meter steeplechase in 10:05.51. Senior Stephanie Garcia won the event and was the sub 10 minute performer in 9:55.10.

Hometown senior Kate VanBuskirk of Duke made sure she would go out on top since her school was the host of meet. VanBuskirk ran a stellar race from beginning to end clocking in at 4:16.68 to win the 1,500.

In the 800 Jillian King of Boston College had to fight off a strong North Carolina trio to win the title in close battle down to the line. King's winning time of 2:04.88 was just enough to hold off Ashley Verplank of North Carolina in 2nd at 2:04.99.

In the 5,000 meter run Florida State was led by a freshman. Freshman Jessica Parry took home the title 16:14.74. Her performance was a great one winning by more than 8 seconds.

In the jumps senior Kimberly Williams of Florida State was the discussion. Williams has been one of the greatest collegiate jumpers ever. She has multiple national championship medals in the triple jump and many All-American honors in the long jump. Williams did not dissapoint by claiming the jumping double winning the long jump in 20-6 1/4 and leap of 46-1 1/4 to set a ACC and stadium record in the triple jump. Clemson was second in both jumping events along with multiple scorers in both events.

April Sinkler was one of those athletes who finished 2nd for Clemson in the long jump but she took the title in the High Jump with a mark of 5'10.50. Teammate and freshman Lauren Terstappen provided solid team points as well in the pole finish 2nd scoring 8 points. Terstappen tied Florida State's Lizbeth Mabry's of mark of 13'3.75, however Mabry had fewer misses.

In the throwing events Virginia Tech had two great team performances winning the shot put and hammer throw keeping them inside the team competition. Freshman Samira Burkhardt had a throw 52'3.25 and Doretea Habazin won the hammer with 224'3".

Kristen Batts a senior from Maryland went out on in top in the discus, on her final throw 160'11 to overtake Duke freshman Erica Brand. Brand's teammate made up for her runner-up finish claiming the Javelin with a mark 155'1.

In the heptathlon, the ultimate event Clemson again showcased their power finishing 1-2 in the event. Senior Liane Weber claimed the title with a total point score 5,463 and fellow senior Patricia Mamona followed with a total of 5,293.

This is becoming pretty routine for Clemson and they will continue to grow to become a national championship contender.

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