Track and Field: Clemons ends career at nationals

The track season finally ended for senior Mycaiah Clemons this past weekend at the NCAA… The track season finally ended for senior Mycaiah Clemons this past weekend at the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark.

Clemons finished sixth in the first heat of the preliminary round in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.99 seconds, but failed to qualify for the semifinal round. Seven runners competed in each heat, with the top three times advancing.

“It wasn’t her best,” head coach Alonzo Webb said. “Had she run what she was capable of, she probably would have made the final.”

This was her first career appearance at nationals, and Webb said he thought the added pressure affected her running.

Yet, despite not advancing at nationals, Clemons’ career at Pitt was extremely productive. After transferring from Virginia Tech following her freshman season and not competing much her sophomore year at Pitt, she earned all-Big East honors her junior season by finishing second in the 60-meter hurdles at the indoor championships. She took first in the 60-meter hurdles at the Big East Indoor

Championships this year, and finished first in the 100-meter hurdles at the outdoor championships.

While Clemons was one of Pitt’s top runners, Webb said he thought she had an immediate impact on the team in areas unrelated to her performance.

“She’s been a very good teammate and was willing to go above and beyond and stepped up and did anything that she was asked to,” he said.

Clemons showed this through her versatility. While at Pitt, she competed in several events, including the 4-by-10-meter relay, 4-by-400-meter relay, 100-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles.

“She actually qualified for regionals in the 400-meter hurdles, as well as the 100-meter hurdles,” Webb said. “We just chose not to have her run in the 400.”

While Clemons’ successful collegiate career has ended, Webb said he thinks she has the tools to make it professionally.

“She’s learned what it takes to make it to the next level,” he said. “If she wanted to pursue that, I think she would do very well.”