Peter Holland/ Staff Writer
The track and field team concluded its season finishing eighth overall after competing in the C-USA outdoor championship at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Seven athletes were awarded eight medals during the championship meet which began on May 12 through May 15.
Redshirt junior Alton Eliphar, FIU’s top sprinter, placed second in both the 100 and 200-meter dash. Eliphar broke FIU’s record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 20.71 seconds and finished with a time of 10.46 seconds in the 100-meter dash. His time in the 200-meter dash is currently ranked 44th in the country.
Senior jumper Marcus Ghent won two bronze medals in both the triple jump and long jump. He finished with a mark of 7.71 meters in the long jump and 15.62 in the triple jump. Ghent’s result for the triple jump sets a new school record with the 51st best mark in the country. His results in the long jump rank him 34th in the country.
During the decathlon, junior Pablo Espitia set a school record with a score of 6,457 points. In result, he finished fourth during the championship.
For the women, the team was led by its top athlete and freshman sensation Clarissa Cutliff, who was awarded a gold medal after the event. During the high jump, the true freshman set a school record with a personal best of 1.81 meters. Her personal record ranks her 15th in the country.
In the discus throw, senior Miriam Pierre claimed gold when she threw with a mark of 47.24 meters, which is also a PR for the Lake Worth native. Following behind her is freshman Terrissa Russell, who finished with a PR of 47.04 meters and claimed second place.
Senior Tiffani Hernandez was awarded her third gold medal for FIU during the Javelin throw with a mark of 43.91 meters.
It was announced on May 19 that FIU will be sending four of its athletes to compete in the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Preliminary Championships.
Representing for the Panthers will be the following athletes: Alton Eliphar, ranked No. 21 in the 100-meter dash with a qualifying time of 10.33 and ranked No. 23 in the 200-meters with a qualifying time of 20.71 seconds; Marcus Ghent, ranked No. 17 in the long jump with a qualifying mark of 7.71 meters and ranked No. 28 in the triple jump with a qualifying mark of 15.62; senior sprinter Jaylaan Slaughter, ranked No. 40 in the 400-meter hurdles with a qualifying time of 59.50; Clarissa Cutliff, ranked No. 11 in the high jump with a qualifying mark of 1.81 meters.
The East region competition will be located in Jacksonville, Florida and will begin on May 26 through May 28.
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