Track Central: Clemson Invitational – University of Tennessee Athletics

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.
 

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 4×400-meter relay.
 
A full meet schedule and heat sheets are available in PDF format at the links above.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Other notable transfers suiting up this weekend include two-time All-American Jesse Henderson, 2022 world championship qualifier Rasheem Brown, 2022 All-ACC hurdler Sam McLendon, 2022 Big South 200-meter champion Jonah Ross, five-time ACC medalist sprinter Jacious Sears and 2019 USATF U20 100-meter runner-up Justin Ofotan.
 
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 high school careers.
 
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.
 
Top returners for the men of Tennessee competing…