CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA (Jan 12, 2018) - The FIU Track and Field Team completed the opening week of the indoor season at the UAB Vulcan Invitational and Clemson Orange & Green Open Saturday, with seventeen finishes in the top three of respective events.
 
"I think this weekend was good for the team," said head coach Ryan Heberling. "We'll have our five minutes and celebrate, and then get back to it on Monday and keep working."
 
At Clemson, All-American Clarissa Cutliff started her indoor season on a high note, placing first in the high jump with a mark of 1.80m. Senior Kenflore Atilus placed third with a jump of 1.70m. Lisa La'Flamme, a sophomore, finished with a clearance of 1.65m.
 
"All three high jumpers did really well. Lisa is still young, and for her to go out and jump that - that can bode well eventually at conference." 
 
Three Panthers placed in the top three in the long jump, with Samantha Ebanks in first at 17'9", Rayquel Berry in second, and Kayla Woulard in the third spot.
 
"The long jump was a good confidence booster," said Heberling. "I think they've got a lot of improvements to make throughout the year, but this was a good start. Someone like Rayqel Berry making prelims and finals – it's just a good experience."
 
On the men's side, Queshun Riggins took home a victory in the triple jump and long jump, while Jason Rotger earned the top mark in the pole vault. Eliseo Torres and Daniel Areces went one-two in the 5000m, while Patston Stewart earned third in the 60m dash.
 
"Patston was .02 off his personal best, and to be running that fast this early is great. He's a guy who's been training for a while, but was injured during the fall. That's pretty positive. Jason Rotger has a big PR in the pole vault. I think he'll do well in the multi."
 
"Q'Shuan Riggins had a good PR in the triple jump. He jumped almost 49 feet. He's a freshman with national level potential. We're going to keep pushing him. He's going to have to keep working."
 
At UAB, Terrisa Russell earned a victory in the weight throw, with a mark of 19.14m. During the Blazer Invite on Friday, Harrison Mancke set a notable PR in the weight throw at 17.50m, just missing the finals.
 
"She just got better with every throw," said Heberling.  When you improve by almost five meters on your personal best, that's terrific. Terrisa Russell made the finals; today she won the meet. She's trying to push it to nationals so she knows what she has to do. We're going to celebrate those little victories."

Results from the UAB Blazer Invite can be found here, and the Clemson Orange & Purple Open can be found here.
 
The Panthers will now prepare for the Keydet Invite, taking place in Lexington, Virginia next week.