Feb. 16, 2008

CLEMSON, S.C. - The USC Upstate men's and women's track and field teams turned in several strong individual performances at the Tiger Invitational at Clemson this weekend in its final preparations before the Atlantic Sun Championships in two weeks.

"Both days gave us some more good experience and several people had a great meet," USC Upstate track and field head coach Jimmy Stephens said.

Freshman high jumper Perrish Goggins enjoyed his weekend by taking first-place in the open flight of the men's high jump, clearing with a jump of 6-07.50. The jump was also a personal record for Goggins, who narrowly missed qualifying for the finals of the 60 meter dash at a time of 7.16 seconds.

Also, freshman pole vaulter Justin Crawford took sixth in the open flight of the men's pole vault with a vault of 13-07.25.

On the women's side, freshman distance runner Emily Tangwar finished fifth in the women's 3000 meter run with a time of 10:03.78. She would also finish 14th in the 800 meters at 2:21.78. Stephens also praised the throwers on his women's team with Stacie Sewell, LaTerrica Blocker, D.D. Allen and Kayla Speed establishing new personal records in the shot put and weight throw.

"Overall, we still have a long way to go," Stephens said. "I think we'll have some good individual performances (at the conference meet) and we hope to make some noise as a team."

The A-Sun Indoor Championships will be Feb. 29-Mar. 1 on the campus of East Tennessee State in Johnson City, Tennessee.