April 18, 2009
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The South Carolina track and field team hit 17 regional qualifying marks and posted five wins this weekend to conclude action at the International Friendship & Freedom Games held at the Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T, site of the upcoming NCAA East Region meet.
The Gamecock women earned two qualifying marks in the pole vault as junior Sallie Gurganus and senior Liza Todd both cleared 12-07.50 (3.85m) to place first and second, respectively. Freshman Radiance Basden earned Carolina’s first qualifying time in the 400m hurdles this year in placing third at 1:00.49.
In her first run this outdoor season in the 400m dash, SEC Freshman Runner of the Year Nadonnia Rodrigues took second in the 400m dash at 54.32, her first qualifying time. Junior Janica Austin placed fourth in the 100m hurdles and improved her time in the event to 13.81.
On the men’s side, senior Johnathan Hancock hit yet another qualifying time in the 100m dash after taking eighth in the event at a 10.47 clip. Sophomore All-American Antonio Sales took 10th in the event and ran a season best 10.49 to earn his second qualifying time of the year. Sales then ran in the 200m dash, his specialty, in leading a trio of Gamecocks to qualifying times. Sales placed fourth at a personal best 20.72, followed by junior Obakeng Ngwigwa in fifth (20.84) and Quentin Moore in seventh (21.00).
Senior and reigning NCAA champion Jason Richardson took his first strong run in the 110m hurdles after missing the NCAA Indoors this year with a sore hamstring. Richardson placed fifth and ran a top time of 13.78 for his first qualifying time of the outdoor season. Freshman Booker Nunley finished behind in sixth at 14.06 and Johnny Dutch ran a 14.09 in the prelim but bowed out of the final.
The final qualifier of the day was senior Jason Cook who won the shot put at 62-11.50 (19.19m).
Other winners include Jeff Merkt in the discus throw at 168-01 (51.24m) and Aaron Anderson in the 400m (47.35).
South Carolina returns to the Tar Heel state next weekend when the team competes at the UNC Elite Meet in Chapel Hill on Friday, May 8.
| SATURDAY, APRIL 18 – WOMEN | ||
| W-400m (Qualifier: 54.61) | ||
| 2. Nadonnia Rodrigues | 54.32 Q | |
| 6. Kelsey McCorkle | 56.58 | |
| 7. Porche Byrd | 56.66 | |
| W-100m Hurdles Prelims (Qualifier: 13.92) | ||
| 5. Janica Austin | 13.81 Q | |
| W-100m Hurdles Final (Qualifier: 13.92) | ||
| 4. Janica Austin | 13.82 Q | |
| W-400m Hurdles (Qualifier: 1:00.82) | ||
| 3. Radiance Basden | 1:00.49 Q | |
| W-High Jump (Qualifier: 1.75) | ||
| 2. Kayla Blake | 5-03.75 (1.62m) | |
| 3. Kettiany Clarke | 5-03.75 (1.62m) | |
| 4. Staley Foster | 5-03.75 (1.62m) | |
| W-Pole Vault (Qualifier: 3.85m) | ||
| 1. Sallie Gurganus | 12-07.50 (3.85m) Q | |
| 2. Liza Todd | 12-07.50 (3.85m) Q | |
| 3. Vica Shobe | 12-01.50 (3.70m) | |
| 4. Allison Nicosia | 11-07.75 (3.55m) | |
| W-Triple Jump (Qualifier: 12.32) | ||
| 4. Radiance Basden | 38-02.00 (11.63m) | |
| W-Shot Put (Qualifier: 14.30m) | ||
| 3. Stacee Roberts | 45-06.25 (13.87m) | |
| 6. Aimee Kodat | 42-02.75 (12.87m) | |
| 7. Katie Vuckovich | 41-10.00 (12.75m) | |
| 14. Kettiany Clarke | 32-03.75 (9.85m) | |
| W-Discus Throw (Qualifier: 47.30m) | ||
| 2. Aimee Kodat | 147-00 (44.81m) | |
| 5. Shantelle Patterson | 118-02 (36.53m) | |
| SATURDAY, APRIL 18 – MEN | ||
| M-100m Prelims (Qualifier: 10.55) | ||
| 7. Johnathan Hancock | 10.47 Q | |
| 10. Antonio Sales | 10.49 Q | |
| M-100m Final (Qualifier: 10.55) | ||
| 8. Johnathan Hancock | 10.49 Q | |
| 11. Antonio Sales | 10.59 | |
| M-200m (Qualifier: 21.35) | ||
| 4. Antonio Sales | 20.72 Q | |
| 5. Obakeng Ngwigwa | 20.84 Q | |
| 7. Quentin Moore | 21.00 Q | |
| M-400m (Qualifier: 47.20) | ||
| 1. Aaron Anderson | 47.35 | |
| 12. Michael Varner | 50.26 | |
| M-110m Hurdles Prelims (Qualifier: 14.30) | ||
| 6. Jason Richardson | 13.78 Q | |
| 9. Johnny Dutch | 14.09 Q | |
| 16. Booker Nunley | 14.58 | |
| 24. Jerry Thompson III | 15.69 | |
| M-110m Hurdles Final (Qualifier: 14.30) | ||
| 5. Jason Richardson | 14.02 Q | |
| 6. Booker Nunley | 14.06 Q | |
| M-Pole Vault (Qualifier: 5.05m) | ||
| 1. Kevin Brinkley | 15-11.00 (4.85m) | |
| M-Long Jump (Qualifier: 7.34m) | ||
| 7. Aaron Searles | 21-00.50 (6.41m) | |
| M-Triple Jump (Qualifier: 15.00m) | ||
| 8. Aaron Searles | 46-05.50 (14.16m) | |
| M-Shot Put (Qualifier: 16.80m) | ||
| 1. Jason Cook | 62-11.50 (19.19m) Q | |
| 16. Jerry Thompson III | 35-07.75 (10.86m) | |
| M-Discus Throw (Qualifier: 51.70m) | ||
| 1. Jeff Merkt | 168-01 (51.24m) | |
| 3. David Zaycek | 153-11 (46.91m) | |
| M-Javelin Throw (Qualifier: 61.60m) | ||
| 6. Andrew Vaughan | 162-00 (49.37m) | |
