March 17, 2002

CLEMSON, S.C. - The Clemson men's track and field team opened its 2002 outdoor season this weekend at the Charlotte 49ers Classic. The Tigers' picked up two first-place finishes and two second-place showings. Matt Lombardi won the discus throw and Terrance McDaniel was the top collegiate finisher in the triple jump.

In the running events, Larry Griffin posted a time of 10.64 in the 100m dash to finish seventh overall. Griffin finished third in the 200m dash with a time of 21.30, while Otto Spain was seventh in 21.88. Marcus Hodge placed seventh in the 400m dash with a time of 49.00, and Garrick Copes led the Tigers in the 800m with a time of 1:57.56. Rick Hill also competed in the 800m, finishing in 2:05.08. Ian Potter finished second among collegiate competitors and fourth overall in the 110m hurdles with a time of 14.57. Clemson's 4x400m relay "A" team placed fourth with a time of 3:14.58, while the "B" team finished ninth in 3:20.33.

Terrance McDaniel was the top collegiate finisher in the triple jump and second overall with a mark of 47'2.5"/14.39m, while George Kitchens finished fourth in the long jump with a mark of 23'11"/7.29m. McDaniel posted a second-place finish in the high jump, clearing 6'9.75"/2.08m, while Bryant Howe was sixth with a mark of 6'6"/1.98m. Adam Klotzbach cleared 15'3"/4.65m in the pole vault to finish second. In the shot put, Matt Lombardi recorded a mark of 49'1.5"/14.97m to place fifth, and Hill had a mark of 39'9.25"/12.12m in the event. Lombardi won the discus throw with his mark of 163'9"/49.91m, and Hill posted a mark of 122'1"/37.22m. In the hammer throw, Colt Hodge recorded a personal-best mark of 186'4" to rank second on Clemson's all-time list in that event, winning the event. Brett Varner posted a third-place finish in the hammer with a mark of 179'7".

Complete Clemson Results
100m
Larry Griffin (7) - 10.64
200m
Larry Griffin (3) - 21.30, Otto Spain (7) - 21.88
400m
Marcus Hodge (7) - 49.00
800m
Garrick Copes (16) - 1:57.56, Rick Hill (48) - 2:05.08
110m Hurdles
Ian Potter (2) - 14.57
4x400m relay
Clemson A (4) - 3:14.58, Clemson B (9) - 3:20.33
Long Jump
George Kitchens (4) - 23'11"/7.29m
Triple Jump
Terrance McDaniel (1) - 47'2.5"/14.39m
High Jump
Terrance McDaniel (2) - 6'9.75"/2.08m, Bryant Howe (6) - 6'6"/1.98m
Pole Vault
Adam Klotzbach (2) - 15'3"/4.65m
Shot Put
Matt Lombardi (5) - 49'1.5"/14.97m, Rick Hill (15) - 39'9.25"/12.12m
Discus Throw
Matt Lombardi (1) - 163'9"/49.91m,, Rick Hill (19) - 122'1"/37.22m
Hammer Throw
Colt Hodge (1) - 186'4"/56.80m, Brett Varner (3) - 179'7"/54.75m, Matt Lombardi (10) - 151'9"/46.25m