University of Tennessee Athletics

Track Central: Clemson Invitational
January 12, 2023 | Track & Field
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — With a fully reloaded roster and a new coaching staff ready to make waves on the NCAA track & field scene, the Tennessee Vols and Lady Vols begin 2023 with a trip to Clemson, South Carolina, for the Clemson Invitational this weekend. The two-day competition runs Friday and Saturday, Jan. 13-14, at the Clemson Indoor Track & Field Complex.
Â
Head coach and director of track & field Duane Ross leads a group of 35 student-athletes (18 men, 17 women) to his alma mater for his Tennessee coaching debut. The action begins Friday at 2 p.m. ET with Mikele Vickers, Prom'Myse Hoosier and Charisma Taylor in the women's long jump, and the meet will conclude Saturday at 2:55 p.m. with the Big Orange running the men's 4x400-meter relay.
Â
A full meet schedule and heat sheets are available in PDF format at the links above.
Â
FOLLOW LIVE: The Clemson Invitational will be streamed live both days via ACC Network Extra (Friday Stream / Saturday Steam), and live results will be provided throughout the weekend by AdkinsTrak Timing Associates.
Â
TENNESSEE DEBUTS: Fifteen members of the Big Orange contingent will be making their Tennessee debuts at Clemson, including eight transfers and seven true freshmen. Headlining the group is defending NCAA 200-meter indoor champion Javonte Harding, who will line up for the 60- and 200-meter dashes donning the Orange & White on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Â
Additional notable transfers suiting up this weekend include 2022 world championship qualifier Rasheem Brown, two-time All-American Jesse Henderson, 2022 All-ACC hurdler Sam McLendon, 2019 USATF U20 100-meter runner-up Justin Ofotan, 2022 Big South 200-meter champion Jonah Ross and five-time ACC medalist sprinter Jacious Sears.
Â
Kendall Ford, Tairah Johnson, T'Mars McCallum, Isaiah Monroe, Suzan Ogunleye, Alanna Smith and Javonya Valcourt will compete on the collegiate track surface for the first time after their respective well-decorated prep careers.
Â
RETURNING STRONG: The Vols and Lady Vols return a wealth of talented athletes from last year's squads, including graduate student Charisma Taylor who secured three All-America honors and broke two school records during her first campaign on Rocky Top last spring. Fifth-year senior Joella Lloyd also stands out as the Lady Vol record holder in the indoor 60-meter (7.15), a four-time All-American and 2021 SEC 60-meter champion.
Â
Top returners for the men of Tennessee competing this weekend include seniors Emmanuel Bynum, Rasheeme Griffith and Anthony Riley, who have combined for 11 All-America certificates over the course of their collegiate careers.
Â
UP NEXT: Tennessee track & field will participate in a pair of meets next weekend with a distance squad opening up at the Vanderbilt Invite (Nashville - Jan. 21) and a group of sprinters, jumpers and throwers taking on the Carolina Challenge (Columbia, S.C. - Jan. 20-21).
Â
Head coach and director of track & field Duane Ross leads a group of 35 student-athletes (18 men, 17 women) to his alma mater for his Tennessee coaching debut. The action begins Friday at 2 p.m. ET with Mikele Vickers, Prom'Myse Hoosier and Charisma Taylor in the women's long jump, and the meet will conclude Saturday at 2:55 p.m. with the Big Orange running the men's 4x400-meter relay.
Â
A full meet schedule and heat sheets are available in PDF format at the links above.
Â
FOLLOW LIVE: The Clemson Invitational will be streamed live both days via ACC Network Extra (Friday Stream / Saturday Steam), and live results will be provided throughout the weekend by AdkinsTrak Timing Associates.
Â
TENNESSEE DEBUTS: Fifteen members of the Big Orange contingent will be making their Tennessee debuts at Clemson, including eight transfers and seven true freshmen. Headlining the group is defending NCAA 200-meter indoor champion Javonte Harding, who will line up for the 60- and 200-meter dashes donning the Orange & White on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Â
Additional notable transfers suiting up this weekend include 2022 world championship qualifier Rasheem Brown, two-time All-American Jesse Henderson, 2022 All-ACC hurdler Sam McLendon, 2019 USATF U20 100-meter runner-up Justin Ofotan, 2022 Big South 200-meter champion Jonah Ross and five-time ACC medalist sprinter Jacious Sears.
Â
Kendall Ford, Tairah Johnson, T'Mars McCallum, Isaiah Monroe, Suzan Ogunleye, Alanna Smith and Javonya Valcourt will compete on the collegiate track surface for the first time after their respective well-decorated prep careers.
Â
RETURNING STRONG: The Vols and Lady Vols return a wealth of talented athletes from last year's squads, including graduate student Charisma Taylor who secured three All-America honors and broke two school records during her first campaign on Rocky Top last spring. Fifth-year senior Joella Lloyd also stands out as the Lady Vol record holder in the indoor 60-meter (7.15), a four-time All-American and 2021 SEC 60-meter champion.
Â
Top returners for the men of Tennessee competing this weekend include seniors Emmanuel Bynum, Rasheeme Griffith and Anthony Riley, who have combined for 11 All-America certificates over the course of their collegiate careers.
Â
UP NEXT: Tennessee track & field will participate in a pair of meets next weekend with a distance squad opening up at the Vanderbilt Invite (Nashville - Jan. 21) and a group of sprinters, jumpers and throwers taking on the Carolina Challenge (Columbia, S.C. - Jan. 20-21).
Players Mentioned
Everything Orange S2 | Sarah Schmitt (Track & Field)
Thursday, April 17
Track & Field | 400m Hurdles Feature
Wednesday, May 22
Track & Field | Tennessee Invite Recap
Wednesday, April 10
Track & Field | Battle on the Bayou Recap
Saturday, March 30