Derek Gilson Class: Junior Hometown: Red Bank, NJ Event: Throws Major: Sociology

Clemson Highlights
Ranks second on the all time list in indoor shot; ranks 3rd on the all time list in outdoor shot; and ranks 4th on the all time list in the discus.

2003-2004: Outdoor: East Region qualifier in the shot put and discus throw...competed in the shot put at the region meet, finishing eighth with a season-best mark of 58'3.75"...at the Orange & Purple Classic, posted a mark of 58'1" to finish as the top collegian in the event...won the shot put and discus throw at the NC-SC All-Star meet...earned All-ACC honors in the shot put with a second-place finish...captured the Georgia Tech Invitational shot put title with a throw of 57'2.75"...recorded a season-best mark of 170'10" in the discus throw at the Clemson Invitational to capture the event title...finished fourth in the discus throw at the Georgia Tech Invitational with a mark of 165'7"...scored for the Tigers in the discus with a fourth-place finish and mark of 164'4" at the ACC Championships...in the hammer throw, posted a season-best and event-winning effort of 168'2" at the Clemson Invitational. Indoor: NCAA provisional qualifier in the shot put...ACC Champion in the shot put with a career-best mark of 59'11"...Clemson's first ACC shot put champion since 1992...also recorded a provisional qualifying mark of 58'8.75" in the shot put at the Clemson Classic, winning the event...at the Carle/Health Alliance Classic, captured the event with a mark of 58'6.75"...also led Clemson in the weight throw in 2004 with his season-best mark of 56'3.75" at the ACC Championships...top Tiger in the weight throw at the Kentucky Invitational.

2002-2003: Outdoor: Won the discus throw at the NC-SC All-Star meet with a mark of 162'7"...scored for the Tigers in the shot put and discus at the ACC Championships, with seventh-place finishes in each event...competed in the shot put at the East Region Championships...placed eighth in the shot put at the Raleigh Relays with a mark of 52'7.25"...the runner-up in the discus at the Clemson Invitational with a mark of 160'10". Indoor: Led the Tigers in the shot put and weight throw...recorded season-best mark of 54'4.5" in the shot put at the Maryland Invitational, winning the event...at the ACC Championships, posted mark of 52'4.5" in the shot put to place sixth and score for the Tigers...at the Virginia Tech Challenge, threw a season-best 51'5" in the weight throw...also at the Virginia Tech Challenge, posted mark of 51'1.75" in the shot put.

Middletown High School Three-time high school MVP (1999-2001)...2000 Central Jersey Group IV state champion in the shot put...2000 New Jersey Junior Olympic Champion in the shot put...placed sixth at the 2001 New Balance Nationals in the shot put...holds school record of 59'2" in the shot put both indoor and outdoor...all-county honoree...member of the All-Shore team

Personal Born 7/12/83...majoring in sociology ...named to ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2001-2002, 2002-2003 and 2003-04.

Honors
2004 : East Region Qualifier Shot Put, Discus Throw; Outdoor All-ACC Shot Put; Indoor NCAA Qualifier Shot Put; Indoor ACC Champion & All-ACC Shot Put
2003: Outdoor NCAA East Region Qualifier Shot Put

Best Marks
Shot Put - 59'11"
Discus Throw - 170'10"
Weight Throw - 56'3.75"
Hammer Throw - 168'2"