June 22, 2002

Palo Alto, CA – South Carolina owned the 400m hurdles today at the USA Junior Track and Field Championships, finishing 1-2 in the men’s and women’s 400m hurdles races. With the addition of the 400m hurdles races, the two short hurdles races and the men’s 400m, the Gamecocks placed seven athletes on the World Junior Championship team which will compete in Jamaica in July.

The complete list follows below.

Rising sophomores Lashinda Demus, the world junior record holder, won the 400m hurdles race at 56.35 with teammate Tiffany Ross finishing second at 57.13. The two went 1-2 at the NCAA Championships and will represent the USA at the World Junior meet.

“I came here to make the world team and I did. I do not feel good about my race,” said Demus. “I will go back to Columbia, go to school and train harder. That was not a good race for me.”

Sophomore Jon Fortenberry was the runner-up in the 400m, running a 45.99. “I didn’t get out right,” said Fortenberry. “I should excel at this meet because I have a year of college under my belt. I need to go back and train more.”

Earlier in the day, Ross won the 100m hurdles win a personal best 13.01. The win puts her on the world junor team as well.

“My best coming in was 13.30 so I am thrilled to finally run 13.01. I had a really good start and kept it going,” said Ross.

Incoming freshmen Bershawn Jackson and Kenneth Jackson went 1-2 in the men’s 400m hurdles at the junior meet. Jackson hit 50.33 while Ferguson ran a 50.52.

Earlier, Ferguson was the runner-up in the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.85.

Incoming freshman Kristina Shelton won the 800m with a time of 2:09.13, qualifying for the World Junior Championships.

Sophomore Chalsea Hammond was fourth in the long jump at 19′ 2 3/4, also qualifying for the meet.

Sophomore Kerri Groover was sixth in the discus with a toss of 152′ 11 1/4.

Sophomore made the finals of the 200m to be run tomorrow.

USC Members on the USA’s World Junior Championship Team
Women
100m hurdles – Tiffany Ross
400m hurdles – Lashinda Demus, Tiffany Ross
800m – Kristina Sheldon *
long jump – Chalsea Hammond

Men
110m hurdles – Kenneth Ferguson *
400m – Jon Fortenberry
400m hurdles – Bershawn Jackson*, Kenneth Ferguson *

A number of the athletes will also run legs of the 4x100m and 4x400m relay, to be selected by the USA coaching staff later this month.

* – Gamecock signees