April 5, 2008

In quite a bit of rain and delays due to weather and lightening, the Gamecocks won four events, posting 10 regional qualifiers at Auburn’s Tiger Classic. Lisa McKinney chopped 17 seconds off her own school record in the 3000m steeplechase with a winning time of 11:46.99. In addition, senior Jason Richardson set a facility record and ran the second-fastest time in the world this year in the 110m hurdles. The NCAA Regional Championships are in Tallahassee, Fla., in late May.

Richardson ran a 13.45 to break the facility record (formerly 13.55 in 2007) to win the 110m hurdles. His time is also a regional qualifier and a season-best time.

Jussi Heikkila (50.71) posted a win in the 400m hurdles and qualified for the NCAA regional. Johnny Dutch was fourth at 51.91, picking up a regional qualifier in the event.

The men’s 4x400m relay won the 1600m race with the baton, posting an NCAA regional qualifier of 3:08.83. The relay consisted of Keith Hinnant, Quentin Moore, Heikkila and Derron Flood.

The women’s 4x100m relay finished third and picked up a regional qualifier (45.66). The 4x400m relay (Krystal Cantey, Faraign Giles, Porche Byrd and Brandi Cross) finished as the runner-up with a time of 3:41.35 – also a regional qualifier.

Lakya Brookins (11.67) and Shayla Mahan (11.70) finished third and fourth, respectively with regional qualifying times.

Kettiany Clarke (13.68) finished fifth in the 100m hurdles with a regional qualifier. She later finished (1:02.08) one place behind Trier Young (1:01.78), who finished third, in the 400m hurdles.

Keith Hinnant (47.37) and Quentin Moore (47.55) were fourth and fifth, respectively in the 400m.

Mike Zajac was fifth in the hammer with a regional qualifier of 187′ 3.