CLEMSON, SC-- Winthrop Track and Field opened up their 2007-2008 season with a bang at the Clemson Opener this past weekend.
Leading the way were a pair of throws and a jump School record. The meet saw the Eagles line up against some of the best teams in the SEC and ACC conferences. Host Clemson along with Tennessee, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest made up over 10 teams competing.
The Eagle throws were well represented as junior Ashley Howard cranked out a toss of 54' 9" in the 20lb.-weight throw to claim third place and a new school record. The throw is leading the conference through the first week of the season. Howard, a NCAA qualifier in the discus this past season, now holds two throws records.
Sophomore Travis Coleman claimed his second school record with a heave of 46' 10" in the 35 lb weight throw to claim eighth place.
The third school record went to freshman Keary Simms who leaped 47' 5 "to break the old record of 47' 4" set by former Big South champion Rod Lorick in 2001. Simms record claimed a top seven finish and puts him in to the conference lead as well.
Other eagles placing in the top eight include distance runners Trevor Beesley(8:38) and Matt Elliott(8:50) finishing third and fourth in the 3000 meters and Casey Lyons(4:34) in fourth in the mile run.
Jumper Dexter Young (6'4") finished seventh in the high jump and Daryl Green ran 49. 41 for 8th in the 400m run. Lisa Sickman was the other top lady finisher with an eighth-place run of 2:23.8 in the 800m run.
The Eagle track team will break for finals and holidays before resuming their season at Virginia Tech on Jan. 11-12.
