University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Opens Indoor Track Season at Clemson This Weekend
December 04, 2003 | Men's Track
Dec. 4, 2003
A small contingent from Tennessee's track and field squad uncorks the indoor season Friday and Saturday at the Clemson Opener. The Vols chose to take a small group of seven or eight because the majority of the quad has final exams scheduled for one of those days. The seven or eight Tennesseans making the trip not only open the season but join 15 other men's teams in breaking in Clemson's new indoor facility.
"We had three criteria in mind when deciding to go to Clemson," head coach Bill Webb said. "First, we wanted to take only people who didn't have exams scheduled for those days and who were in good shape academically. Second, we narrowed it down more to who could benefit from running on Clemson's new Mondo track. It's the closest new indoor facility to us, and we'll be returning later this season for a heptathlon. Last, we're trying to see where we are after a fall of training. It's early in the year and we're not necessarily looking for NCAA qualifiers, but we'll take them if we get them. We're really looking more at our fitness level and seeing what we've accomplished."
Decathletes Blake Sabo and freshman Chris Helwick are slated to compete in the 60m dash, high jump and 300m dash, with Sabo also adding the 60m hurdles to his docket. Freshman Aries Merritt and Craig Sutherland are also entered in the 60m hurdles. Jim Sexton represents the throwers with a spot in the weight throw and shot put. Jeff Trembley and Mike Yurcho compete in the pole vault.
In addition to Tennessee and host Clemson, Appalachian State, Charlotte, The Citadel, ETSU, Florida State, Gardner-Webb, Georgia Tech, Morehouse, N.C. Central, Radford, Savannah State, South Carolina State, Western Carolina and Winthrop dedicate the Clemson Indoor Track and Field Facility.
The Tennessee All-Comers Meet arrives next on the schedule for the Volunteers in a Jan. 9 home opener in Stokely Athletics Center.
