ANDERSON, S.C. - With sophomore Mason Hazel and junior Olivia Gardner each winning their respective 3000 meter runs, the Anderson men's and women's track and field teams opened their respective indoor seasons at Clemson's Orange and Purple Winter Classic, Saturday afternoon at the Clemson Indoor Track & Field Complex.

Competing against a small but challenging field that was comprised of the host Tigers, North Carolina A&T, Limestone, Southern Wesleyan, Emmanuel, Florida International and Florida A&M, the Trojans posted several strong performances.

Sophomore Christopher Burton finished fifth in the men's 200 meter event in a time of 22.63, while fellow sophomore Caleb Stephenson placed seventh in a time of 23.03. Burton also placed sixth in the 60 meter dash with a time of 6.96. Stephenson went on to cross the line in 10th in the 400 meter run in a time of 52.54.

Juniors Ben Boerma (4:39.52) and Jesse Patrick (4:45.81) finished 14th and 15th, respectively in the mile run, while classmate Michael Burch crossed the line in a time of 4:52.98 to claim 18th.

Sophomore John Drummond finished fifth in the 5000 meter run in a time of 16:56.22, with sophomore Brelyn Alston-Barclay taking eighth in the high jump with a height of 1.85 meters. The freshman tandem of Jeff Bannon (4.00 meters) and David Lenser (4.00 meters) finished third and fourth, respectively in the pole vault, with sophomore Joseph Siegwald garnering 17th in the long jump with a distance of 6.08 meters.

Burton brought home fifth in the triple jump with a distance of 13.40 meters while junior Eric Hoover was sixth with a distance of 12.98 meters. Sophomore Anthony Aleruchi claimed eighth in the shot put with a toss of 12.68 meters, while Hoover was 14th with a throw of 9.89 meters. Aleruchi followed up with a toss of 12.17 meters in the weight throw to claim seventh.

Hazel won the 3000 meter run in a time of 8:44.53, while junior Ned Kennedy claimed third in a time of 9:41.12. The team of Burton, freshman Brandon Kauer, Stephenson and sophomore Rashod Monts claimed fourth in the 4 x 400 relay in 3:40.87, while Boerma, Patrick, Burch and Hazel took third in the distance medley relay in a time of 11:06.51.

On the women's side, Gardner claimed the top spot in the 3000 meter run in a time of 10:53.56, while junior Grace Gerlock (11:40.39), freshman Maddie Buddenberg (11:42.88) and junior Mia Swiersz (11:48.54) placed third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

Junior Sherin Malone captured 16th in the 200 meters in a time of 27.44, with senior Ali Palacios taking 17th in a time of 27.81. Freshman Tori Cooper crossed the line in 10th in the 400 meters in a time of 1:02.41, with Palacios (1:04.82) finishing 13th. Sophomore Taylor Morris finished 22nd in the 800 meters in a time of 2:37.13, while freshmasn Madison Seay took 24th in a time of 2:39.63.

Gardner took home 11th in the mile run, with sophomore Haylee Love just behind in 12th in a time of 5:24.5. Sophomore Alex Dixon (5:39.15) and freshman Martha Coleman were 15th and 17th, respectively. Sophomore Allison Halperin placed 10th in the 5000 meter run, with freshman Marion Reeves claiming 12th in a time of 21:56.15. Junior Amber Worthy was 13th in a time of 23:00.80.

Freshman Charity Finley finished fourth in the high jump with a height of 1.55 meters, while classmate Bailey Waldbart was third in the pole vault with a height of 3.15 meters. Senior D'Yandra Morris was fourth in the shot put with a distance of 11.52 meters, with freshman JoLyn Copeland earning 12th with a toss of 9.16 meters. Morris (14.21 meters) and Copeland (11.15 meters) were sixth and 13th, respectively in the weight throw.

The team of Love, Cooper, Dixon and Coleman finished third in the 4000 meter distance medley relay in a time of 13:56.90.

Anderson will get back in action on Jan. 29 at Clemson's Bob Pollock Invitational.