March 21, 2003

CLEMSON, SC - The Clemson women's track and field team opened its outdoor season at the Savannah State Invitational earlier this week. Krystal Woods led the Lady Tigers with her mark of 123'6.5" in the javelin throw, a mark that ranks fourth on Clemson's all-time list in the event.

In the running events, Ramera Nero posted a time of 12.75 in the 100m dash, while Keshia Haughton recorded a time of 13.17. Denise Cruse led three Lady Tigers in the 200m with a fourth-place finish in 25.44. Nero was sixth in 26.37, and Angela Thomas finished in 26.94. Cruse also led the field in the 400m, winning the event in 58.04. Thomas was third with a time of 59.87. Laura Ann Rukat and LaToya Woodberry placed second and fourth in the 800m, posting times of 2:24.05 and 2:41.23, respectively. Freshman Casey Phillips was a dual winner for the Lady Tigers, claiming the 1500m (4:54.87) and 5000m (19:03.54). Jennifer Barton recorded second-place finishes in both events, clocking a time of 5:00.21 in the 1500m and 20:01.17 in the 5000m. Also in the 5000m, Jennifer Hooten placed third with a time of 20:34.25. Keshia Haughton was the 100m hurdles champion with her time of 14.81. Clemson's 4x100m relay team finished third with a time of 48.64, while the 4x400m relay team clocked a 4:04.84 to win the event.

Gisele Oliveira won three field events for the Lady Tigers. In the high jump, Oliveira cleared 5'4" to claim the event, while Katie Pickett placed second (5'4") and Joana Costa finished fourth (4'10"). Oliveira also won the long jump with her mark of 18'8.5", while Costa was the runner-up with a leap of 17'10.5". Thomas placed fourth with a mark of 17'9.5". Oliveira's mark of 38'6" in the triple jump was good for a first-place finish, and Katrina Moultrie took second in the event with her jump of 37'2". Allison Bradshaw finished second in the shot put with a mark of 40'9", while Mary Gosselin and Woods were fourth and fifth with marks of 36'8" and 35'2", respectively. Woods won the discus throw with a mark of 131'11", and Gosselin placed fourth with a mark of 114'8". Bradshaw and Elizabeth Lord also placed in the event, finishing sixth and seventh with marks of 101'4" and 95'11", respectively. In the javelin throw, Woods won the event with her mark of 123'6.5". Lord placed second with a mark of 112'7", followed by Pickett and Haughton's marks of 102'4" and 93'4".

The Clemson women's track and field team returns to competition this Saturday at the Clemson Relays.