The Clemson Tigers put on an impressive performance at the Tiger Paw Invitational, held at the Clemson Indoor Track and Field Complex. Over two days of competition, numerous athletes set personal and season-best records, with several Tigers securing spots on Clemson’s all-time top-10 performance list.
Day One Highlights
The first day of the meet saw standout performances across multiple events, with 11 Tigers either adding their names or moving up the ranks in Clemson’s all-time records. Oneka Wilson delivered a stellar performance in the 60-meter hurdles, clocking a nation-leading time of 7.95 seconds, tying her for the second-fastest time in program history.
In the women’s 5000 meters, Emily Lamontagne secured first place with a time of 16:37.05, earning the No. 2 spot on Clemson’s all-time list. Meanwhile, Paul Maguire achieved an 11-second personal best in the men’s 5000 meters, finishing at 14:43.31.
Nathaniel Rayan and Sharvis Simmonds set new personal records in the men’s 60-meter hurdles, while Ayomide Oyetunji and Henry Gainer recorded personal and season-best times in the 60-meter dash. Additionally, Aleksandra Stoilova climbed to No. 7 on Clemson’s all-time list in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.25 seconds.
The field events also saw remarkable performances. Kirstin Hoffman and Anna Long secured personal bests in the women’s pole vault, clearing heights of 4.05m and 3.95m, respectively. Ella Brooks earned the No. 8 spot on the all-time list in the women’s weight throw with a mark of 18.59m.
Day Two Highlights
The final day of the Tiger Paw Invitational featured even more success for the Tigers. Director of Track and Field Mark Elliott praised the team’s overall performance, noting that the meet came at the perfect time as the team prepares for the upcoming ACC Championships.
One of the most notable performances came from Gladys Chepngetich in the women’s 800 meters. She set an indoor personal best of 2:01.64, making her the seventh-fastest runner in the country in the event this season. Freshman Garrett Brown also improved significantly in the 3000 meters, moving up to No. 6 on Clemson’s all-time list.
The weekend saw a total of 13 personal bests set on day two, adding to the strong momentum the Tigers have built this season. The event concluded with a senior ceremony, honoring 12 student-athletes for their contributions to the program.
With a strong showing at the Tiger Paw Invitational, the Clemson Tigers are well-positioned heading into the ACC Indoor Championships.
