ANDERSON, S.C. – Following a six-week layoff, the Anderson University men's and women's track and field teams are set to compete at the 2017 Clemson Invitational, Saturday at the Tigers' Indoor Complex.
The Trojans have competed at Clemson in five of the last six seasons in either the Orange and Purple Classic or the Bob Pollock Invitational, but Saturday mark's AU's first appearance at the Clemson Invitational since the 2011-12 campaign.
For the Trojan men, junior Mason Hazel opened the season in early December with an 18th-place finish in the 5,000 meter run at the Grand Valley State Holiday Open.
A day later, the men's squad competed at the JDL College Kick-off Classic in Winston-Salem, N.C., while capturing six top-20 finishes.
Freshman Matthew Shoup claimed 16th in the men's high jump, while senior Eric Hoover finished 15th in the men's triple jump. Junior Christopher Burton finished fourth and freshman Jordan Anderson was 30th in the men's 200 meters. Fellow junior Anthony Aleruchi was 16th in the men's weight throw and claimed 28th in the shot put.
Junior Rashod Monts finished 37th in the men's 400 meters, with freshman Sean Rickard claiming the 52nd slot. Sophomore Luke Rochester finished 14th in the men's pole vault and the Trojans' 4 x 400 meter relay squad placed 10th.
On the women's side, senior Olivia Gardner claimed 21st in the women's 5,000 meter run at Grand Valley State, while freshman Morgan Bridges crossed the finish line in sixth place in the women's 800 meter run.
The women brought home a pair of top-20 finishes at the JDL meet, with senior Bari Robinson crossing the finish line in 14th place in the women's 800 meters, while sophomore JoLyn Copeland finished 17th in the women's weight throw. Copeland also claimed 25th place in the shot put.
Freshman Jasmine Barmore captured 42nd place in the women's 200 meters, while freshman Emilee Edwards finished 52nd in the women's 400 meters.
Freshman Rebecca Faircloth finished 25th in the women's 800 meters, with freshman Emily Pitts claiming 28th place and sophomore Madison Seay finishing 32nd.
The field events are slated to get underway at 11 a.m. with the women's pole vault, while the running events will being with the women's 5,000 meter run at 12:30 p.m.
