By: by Emily Diekelmann
CLEMSON, S.C.- Finding eight of their athletes finishing in the top ten, the women’s track and field team started 2011 well at the Clemson Invitational Friday. Competing in the first of the two day event, the squad faced seven of their 16 events they will be participating in over the course of the weekend.
In only their second meet of the indoor season, Jill Arthur would be the highest finishing Owl on the day with a first place victory in the triple jump. Her jump of 12.21 meters would beat the second place competitor by .11 meters. Continuing on the field side, Michelle Quimby finished fourth in the high jump, clearing 1.60 meters and Jessica Lumpkin and Chiquita Hawthorne placed sixth and seventh, respectively in the weight throw.
“I’ve been really stressed about the weight throw since I was out with an injury earlier in the year,” Lumpkin said. “I set a goal for today and it was great that I was able to meet it. It is very encouraging to know that we are going in the right direction. I know that by conference I will be fully ready for that level of competition.”
Competing in the rare distances of 300 and 500 meters, the team got some experience with the seldom used race. Naquia Williams, LaShanna Barchue and Lauren Hutchinson would be the three Owls represented in the 300 meter race. The trio would finish 25th, 29th and 34th, respectively. Brittany Robinson would cross the finish line first for the Owls in the 500 meters with a time of 1:21.67, good enough for seventh place.
Continuing on Saturday with their final nine events, the Owls begin the day at 11 a.m. with 400 meters, high jump and long jump. The day will be concluded with the 4x4 relay and pole vault. Full meet results for Saturday will be posted along with a rundown of the weekend’s events.
Full Day One Results
