April 4, 2009

Complete Results

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Junior Elliott Haynie cleared an outdoor school record and NCAA leading 17’10 ½ (5.45m) to win the pole vault as the South Carolina track and field team concluded competition at the 65th-annual Pepsi Florida Relays Saturday at the University of Florida, site of the upcoming SEC Outdoor Championships.

Haynie (Atlanta, Ga.), a transfer this year from Gardner-Webb who was not eligible during the indoor season, set a personal best as he continues to improve his mark with each meet this year. His previous season best was set last weekend at the Weems Baskin Invitational at 16-08.75 (5.10m), a mark that was 20th nationally heading into this week and is more than a foot lower than his clearance Saturday.

“It was a great weekend,” South Carolina head coach Curtis Frye said. “The big thing of the day was the school record from Elliott in the pole vault, as well as a regional qualifying mark from Matt Shuler. Those are two big things for the men’s pole vault after the women had three girls jump over 12-8 yesterday, all for regional qualifying marks by Sallie (Gurganus), Liza (Todd) and a freshman in Allison Nicosia.”

In addition to Haynie, sophomore Matt Shuler earned his first career regional qualifying mark with a new collegiate best 16-06.75 (5.05m) to place fourth. In all, six of Carolina’s eight men’s entries to compete Saturday hit qualifying marks, including the 4x100m (39.73) and 4x400m (3:04.53) relays. Senior Jason Cook tossed a career best 62-05.75 (19.04m) to claim third in the shot put, and sophomore Michael Zajac won the hammer throw at 209-07 (63.88m).

“The next thing we did well today after pole vault and the mile relays was Jason Cook who led the shot put all the way up to the last round,” Frye said. “All of his throws were over 60 feet, and it was a good breakthrough for him. This weekend our field events did a really good job.”

The women had only a few participants Saturday with the mile relay team of Brandi Cross, Porche Byrd, Breehana Jacobs and Gabrielle Glenn taking eighth at a qualifying time of 3:38.31.

“We’re on track to having a good year,” Frye said. “This was our first big test. We have another good one next weekend at Georgia.”

South Carolina returns to action Wednesday when the team hosts the State USATF meet at Weems Baskin Track. Field events will begin with the men’s hammer throw at 12:30 while the first running event is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. with the 3,000m steeplechase.