October 20, 1998

CLEMSON WOMEN WIN TIGER CLASSIC

The Clemson women's cross country team won the Tiger Classic held Saturday in Clemson. The Tigers tallied 28 points, defeated Tennessee-Chattanooga by six points in the 5K race. Clemson took the second, third and fourth spots in the race and had four runners among the top eight finishers.

Junior Beth Ahern led the Tigers, placing second with a time of 17:38.4. Juniors Julianne Littmann and Erica Van Reenen placed third and fourth, with times of 17:42.5 and 18:02.7, respectively. Van Reenen ran a lifetime-best pace, cutting 52 seconds off her previous best time and moving from sixth to third among the Clemson runners. Senior Brantley Epps also place in the top 10, taking eighth with a time of 18:12.6.

Junior Shannon Schoppman placed 11th, finishing the race in 18:28.0, while junior Anne Stowell placed 12th with a time of 18:33.1. Stowell cut 42 seconds off her previous lifetime-best time. Sophomore Jennifer Meador finished the race in 18:38.8 to take 15th place.

Freshman Abbey Hartman placed 31st with a time of 19:36.2. Sophomore Julie Stackhouse placed 43rd with a time of 20:27.3, and senior Kelly Lasher placed 44th with a time of 21:05.6.

The team will compete at the ACC Championships at Charlottesville, VA, on November 2.

CLEMSON MEN PLACE SECOND AT TIGER CLASSIC

The Clemson men's cross country team placed second with 39 points at the Tiger Classic in Clemson on Saturday. Tennessee-Chattanooga, ranked 38th nationally, won the 8K race with 36 points.

Senior Esteban Diaz placed fourth with a time of 24:57.9 to lead the Tigers. His time tied the 10th-fastest time on the course. Senior Joe Gibson finished the race in 25:01.7 to take fifth place.

Freshman Jason Meany placed ninth, finishing the race in 25:36.0. He was followed by freshman Ryan Demers in 10th place (25:42.1) and freshman B.J. Dillard in 11th place (25:46.6).

Junior Steve Alexander placed 18th with a time of 26:05.0, and senior Matt Tooman placed 21st with a time of 26:16.1 Junior Jason Putnam placed 29th (26:49.0), and freshman Clay Wiggins placed 37th with a time of 27:14.1 Freshman David Abel rounded out the Tiger runners, placing 43rd with a time of 27:54.6.

The team will compete at the ACC Championships at Charlottesville, VA, on November 2.

JASON MEANY CAPTURES ACC HONORS

Freshman Jason Meany was named the ACC Men's Cross Country Performer of the Week after finishing 13th with a time of 26:41 at Western Carolina to open the season.

LADY TIGERS RANK FOURTH IN REGION POLL

The Clemson women's cross country team is ranked fourth in the Southeast Region, according to the poll released by the Women's Cross Country Coaches Association. The Tigers moved up from a fifth-place ranking last week. This is Clemson's highest ranking in five years.

"It's great to be recognized and gain the respect in the region," said assistant women's track and field coach in charge of cross country Rodney Rothoff, "but we need to keep focused on working toward the ACC meet."

CLEMSON MEN RANK SIXTH IN REGION POLL

The Clemson men's cross country team ranked sixth in the latest Southeast Region poll. N.C. State led the region, and ACC rival Duke ranked fifth in the latest poll.

ACC MEET PREVIEW

The Clemson cross country teams will compete at the ACC Championship meet November 2 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Last season the men's team placed third and the women's team placed sixth at the competition. N.C. State won both the men's and women's team titles for the third consecutive year in 1997.

N.C. State and Wake Forest rank among the leaders in the Southeast Region women's cross country poll. Clemson, Virginia and Duke have been ranked among the top 10 in the region throughout the season.

In the men's polls, N.C. State ranks among the nation's top five teams, while Duke was ranked 26th in the latest national poll. N.C. State, Duke and Clemson have ranked among the region's top 10 throughout the season.