University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Orange & Purple Invitational
Four Top Finishes for Vols at Clemson
January 10, 2015 | Track & Field
CLEMSON, S.C. -- Matthew Hoty and Cassie Wertman swept the men's and women's shot put, Cameron Brown claimed the top spot in the men's weight throw, and Tennessee's distance medley relay team took the gold as UT came away with four wins and five personal bests Saturday at the Orange & Purple Classic.
"We had a great showing today," said UT director of track and field/cross country Beth Alford-Sullivan. "I thought we came away with two particularly good wins as Cassie Wertman continues to dominate in the shot put and we were able to pull out the win in the DMR. We also had a good showing in the weight throw with all four of our guys looking very strong. Overall, it was a productive day for us."
Brown earned the first win of the day for UT, heading up a trio of Volunteers that finished 1-2-3 in the men's weight throw. The junior's throw of 21.26 was enough for his sixth career victory in the event, while Tavis Bailey placed second with a career-best 20.53. Deon McAdoo rounded out the top-three finishers with another personal best mark of 18.58. Carson Frost, the fourth Tennessee thrower to compete in the weight, was seventh but also came away with a new career-best distance at 17.14.
Fresh off a season-opening win at last month's Hoosier Open, Wertman again claimed victory in the women's shot put. The junior's winning throw of 16.80 marked a new personal best and is the third-best throw in Tennessee's indoor history. With two wins in the event to begin this season, Wertman now has five career victories in the shot put.
"It was great to see Cassie earn another personal best," Sullivan said. "As it stands now, that throw could potentially punch her ticket to the NCAAs, so we're really pleased with her performance today."
Continuing the day's throwing success, senior Matthew Hoty took the men's shot put for his third career win in the event. The senior's final throw of 17.86 earned him the win -- his first in two tries this season. Bailey (16.80) finished third.
UT went out on top Saturday, winning the final event in which it competed when Chase Hilton, Antonio Carter, Nick Kaiser, and Kyle Walter cruised to victory in the distance medley relay. The quartet posted a time of 10:08.60 -- almost 14 seconds better than the second-place time.
"The guys raced extremely well and ran wire-to-wire in the lead," Sullivan recalled. "The track they ran on today was a flat 200 meter track, whereas the track at the NCAAs will be banked. So allowing for NCAA conversion, they will have posted a legitimate time today."
Rounding out Saturday's competition, freshman Drew Kelley (4:25.32) finished fourth in the men's mile while senior Amirah Johnson (5:14.14) was 11th on the women's side. Running the 800 meters, senior Julia Petree was 19th at 2:32.46.
UT is back in action next week at the Auburn Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama. Most of the Volunteers' indoor competitors are expected to be in action next Saturday at the CrossPlex. Sullivan and her staff are already looking forward to shifting the season into high gear next weekend.
"We're set to bring the rest of the team to Birmingham, so we're looking forward to a loaded slate next weekend."
WOMEN'S RESULTS AT ORANGE & PURPLE CLASSIC
Mile: 11. Amirah Johnson, 5:14.14
Shot Put: 1. Cassie Wertman, 16.80!
800m: 19. Julia Petree, 2:32.46
MEN'S RESULTS AT ORANGE & PURPLE CLASSIC
Weight Throw: 1. Cameron Brown, 21.26; 2. Tavis Bailey, 20.53!; 3. Deon McAdoo, 18.58!; 7. Carson Frost, 17.14!
Mile: 9. Drew Kelley, 4:25.32
Shot Put: 1. Matthew Hoty, 17.86; 3. Tavis Bailey, 16.80
DMR: 1. Tennessee 'A' (Chase Hilton, Antonio Carter, Nick Kaiser, Kyle Walter), 10:08.60
! - Personal Best, $ - SEC Record, a - American Record, b - Banked Track, c - Collegiate Record, adv. - Advanced, dna - Did Not Advance, dnf - Did Not Finish, dnr - Did Not Run, dns - Did Not Score, dq - Disqualified, F - Foul, f - Facility Record, fr - Freshman Record, fr* - Tied Freshman Record, fs - False Start, H - Heptathlon, h - Hand-Timed, mr - Meet Record, nh - No Height, nm - No Mark, P - Pentathlon, sr - School Record, u - Undersized Track, w - wind-aided, wr - World Record
