Clemson’s track and field team has proved itself to be nothing short of a dominant contender this 2024-25 athletic season.
With the outdoor track and field season kicking into high gear, Clemson is set to make waves amongst the ACC pool of talent, driven by a roster of standout athletes for both the men’s and women’s teams.
Let’s go over some athletes to keep an eye out for going forward.
Women’s
Aleksandra Stoilova, junior sprinter
At only 19 years old, Stoilova showcases incredible speed in short-distance events. She is a junior from Sydney, Australia, who runs the 60-meter as well as the 100 and 200 sprints for the Tigers. At the Tiger Paw Invitational this past February, the young athlete achieved a personal best of 7.25 seconds in the 60.
Aniyah Kitt, freshman sprinter
Bursting onto the collegiate scene, Kitt has already made her mark as a young freshman. During her first fall semester, Kitt was able to set a new Clemson program record with a time of 37.39 seconds in the 300-meter at the Clemson Opener. Later in January, Kitt kept the jets on and recorded a personal best of 23.16 seconds in the 200-meter.
Gladys Chepngetich, sophomore mid-distance runner
Chepngetich has quickly become a name to watch in collegiate mid-distance running. In May 2024, the Eldoret, Kenya, native became the first woman in Clemson history to break the two-minute mark in the 800-meter, recording a personal best of 1:59.81. This January at the Clemson Invitational, Chepngetich set a new program record in the women’s 1000-meter with a 2:39.99 run before receiving the title of Division I Women’s Athlete of the Week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Clemson’s women’s track and field program is ranked No. 1 in the ACC standings, as of Feb. 18, and is shaping up to have a bright future.
Men’s
Ian and Jalen Johnson, freshman sprinters
As only freshmen, twins Ian and Jalen Johnson are no doubt a quick duo with promising futures ahead in the orange and purple. At the Bob Pollock Invitational earlier this February, Ian ran a 6.69-second 60-meter dash to bring home second place in the event. In the 200-meter, the Greenville, South Carolina, natives secured first and third place — Jalen ran a 20.90-second sprint for first place, followed by Ian with a 20.92, only 0.02 seconds behind his brother.
Brian Kweyei, sophomore mid-distance runner
As a mid-distance runner, Kweyei has proven to be a quick and athletic competitor on the track. From Kitale, Kenya, Kweyei has added strong times to Clemson’s roster, especially in the 800-meter. At the Tiger Paw Invitational this past January, he set a record-breaking time of 1:46.26 for the 800 and now holds the program best in this event.
Sawyer Dagan, senior distance runner
As a senior with years of experience under his belt, Sawyer Dagan continues to display his athleticism and endurance in collegiate distance running. In the fall, Dagan ran the XC Eye Opener 8K in 25:28.2 to secure ninth place, a 17:44.7 6K at the Adidas XC Challenge for fourth place and another fourth-place finish at the Live in Lou XC Classic with a 24:02.3 8K run.
Clemson’s track and field athletes have already made their mark this season, proving that the Tigers are true competitors within the ACC. As the outdoor season heats up, these standout performers will continue to push the limits, set records and showcase their talent, shaping a bright future ahead for the Clemson track and field program.
