Gamecocks put 11 in Sunday’s Finals at the SEC Championships

May 17, 2008

Auburn, Ala. – In the third day of the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Auburn, South Carolina added six to the finals with five qualifying on Friday for a total of 11 Gamecocks running in finals on Sunday. There will also be seven field event finals on Sunday and four relay finals, the final day of the meet.

“Today was another good day,” said USC head coach Curtis Frye. “Jason’s 13.33 was great. Our freshmen women acted like freshmen and so did our men. They are going to be great athletes, but you can’t replace experience. Jason is a great athlete and Johnny Dutch, a freshman, is benefiting from Jason’s experience. Brandi Cross is having a good meet. Those who have been here before are competing well. Salli made a bar in the pole vault and scored which is a good thing. Brittney James came through with a 20′ 9 jump today – one of the top three jumps in Carolina history. She finished third and it was big.

“It will be a battle for us to finish in the top eight on both sides. I think we have a shot. I would like to see us finish eighth and eighth, anything better than would be excellent. We want to meet expectations and to exceed them would be a great thing.”

Columbia native and Dreher Brittney James won the bronze medal in the long jump, hitting the pits at 20′ 9 1/4, a personal best and betters her NCAA regional mark. James’ jump ties the third-best jump in school history.

Jason Richardson, who ran a 13.33 to win his heat in the 110m hurdles, shattered the facility record and was just .04 off the SEC record set by Carolina’s own Terrence Trammell in 1999 (13.29). Johnny Dutch hit 13.87 to finish third in his heat and qualify for the finals in fifth place. Dutch and Richardson will compete in the 110m hurdles at 5:50 pm and then the 400m hurdles with Jussi Heikkila at 7:15 pm.

Trier Young ran a personal best and NCAA regional qualifying time of 13.60 to advance to the finals in the 100m hurdles. She also will run in the finals of the 400m hurdles.

Shayla Mahah advanced to the finals of the 100m running an 11.59. She will run in the finals of the 200m as well.

Brandi Cross ran a season-best 52.89 to win her heat and qualify for the finals of the 400m seated No. 3. Not advancing, Porche Bryd finished fourth in her heat at 54.84, Sade St. Louis was fifth in the same heat at 57.27 and Faraign Giles was fourth in her heat at 55.08.

Quentin Moore finished third in his heat at 47.04 and advanced to the finals of the 400m. Not advancing to the finals, Ray Miley ran a 47.44 (10th), Kieth Hinnant ran a 47.45 (11th), Jamil James ran a 47.73 (15th) and Aaron Anderson ran a 47.74 (16th).

Sallie Gurganus finished seventh in the pole vault, crossing the bar at 12′ 1 1/2.

Ashley Evens and Rebecca Chain ran 4:48.32 and 4:48.52, respectively, in the 1500m race and did not advance to the finals.

Johnathan Hancock finished 14th overall in the 100m, finishing at 10.61; and Lamar Markett finished 15th overall at 10.66.