Matthew Boling runs 32.40secs, opens season with 300m win at Clemson Invite

Matthew Boling ran 32.40 seconds to win a 300-meter race in his season opener at the 2023 Clemson Invitational on Saturday, 14 January. This was Boling’s first 300m of his career and he ran away with the victory comfortably.

The Georgia senior started the race out of lane six and took control of the contest from the early steps before using a balanced effort to secure the win and moved to No. 2 on the Georgia all-time list in the event behind Bulldog great, the late Torrin Lawrence.

Boling fell well short of the NCAA record of 31.99 secs, set by Jacory Patterson of Florida at the 2022 Clemson Invitational on 14 January, 2022.

Finishing behind the Georgia star was Cameron Rose of Clemson who clocked 32.96 for second place behind Boling in the heat and fifth overall, while third place went LeBron Bessick of Auburn (33.44) in heat one.

Overall, Emmanuel Bynum of Tennessee, who won the fourth heat with a time of 32.83 secs, was second in the event, with Florida’s Robert Gregory and Ryan Willie both running 32.95 secs for third and fourth overall.

Meanwhile, World relay gold medalist Talitha Diggs led a Florida podium sweep in the women’s 300m after she added this title to the 60m crown she won on Day 1 on Friday night.

Diggs clocked 36.12 secs for first place, beating her teammate Laila Owens, who ran 37.21 for second place in the same heat, while another Gator runner, Ramiah Elliott clocked 38.53 to win heat two and finished third overall.

Clemson’s Lashanna Graham and Courtney Williams wrapped up the top five finishers with respective times of 38.87 and 39.14.