Cross, Relays Push Carolina at New Balance Collegiate Invitational

Feb. 9, 2008

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Brandi Cross and the women’s 4×400-meter relay team placed second to lead Carolina in the final day of the New Balance Collegiate Invitational at The Armory in New York City.

Derek Pressley hit a provisional mark in the triple jump, finishing sixth with a distance of 51-2 Â¾. The jump was a new PR for Pressley and goes down as the third-longest jump in Carolina history.

Cross ran a 53.14 for her third provisional time of the season and took home second-place honors. The women’s 4×400-meter relay placed third in 3:35.56, the second-fastest time of the season for the women’s mile relay.

The men’s mile relay also hit its third provisional time of the season at 3:11.33. Quentin Moore ran a strong first leg and the Carolina lead increased with Jussi Heikkila and Keith Hinnant running in the middle. Aaron Anderson ran anchor to push Carolina across the line for the third place finish.

The men’s and women’s 4×200-meter relay teams also enjoyed top five finishes. The women’s team ran a 1:40.34 to place third behind the running of Lakya Brookins, Trier Young, Nikeshia Brown and Gabrielle Glenn. The men’s team placed fifth in 1:28.06 with Johnathan Hancock, Derron Flood, Lamar Markett and Jamil James running. It is the first time this season that both teams competed in the event.

Shayla Mahan, Gabrielle Glenna and Dishari’ck Howze each recorded season-bests in the women’s 200-meter dash, led by Mahan’s 24:20 in the preliminaries that qualified for finals. Mahan ran a 24.38 in the finals to place 11th. Four Gamecocks competed in the men’s 400-meter dash in Antonio Sales, Lamar Markett, Johnathan Hancock and Jason Richardson. Sales ran a 21.61 in prelims and 21.39 in the finals to place sixth with Carolina’s best time this season.

Michael Zajac had another strong outing in the 35-pound weight throw. Zajac finished eighth at 61-10 Â½ after hitting a PR last weekend with a distance of 62-7 Â¾.

Redshirt-junior Callie Rabun set a new personal record in the women’s 5000-meter run, placing 15th in 18:31.27. Staley Foster recorded a new season best in the high jump after clearing 5-3 Â¾.

Women’s 5000m Run (Final)
15. Callie Rabun, 18:31.27

Women’s Distance Medley (Final)
11. South Carolina, 12:34.31

Women’s 200m Dash (Pre)
10. Shayla Mahan, 24.20, 17. Gabrielle Glenn, 24.44; 48. Dishari’ck Howze, 26.01

Women’s 200m Dash (Final)
11. Shayla Mahan, 24.38

Women’s 4x400m Relay (Final)
2. South Carolina, 3:35.56

Men’s 4x400m Relay (Final)
3. South Carolina, 3:11.36

Men’s 400m Dash (Final)
9. Keith Hinnant, 48.22

Women’s 400m Dash (Final)
2. Brandi Cross, 53.14; 8. Krystal Cantey, 55.09

Women’s High Jump Consolation
4. Staley Foster, 5-3 Â¾

Men’s 200m Dash (Pre)
12. Antonio Sales, 21.61; 33. Lamar Markett, 22.15; 41. Johnathan Hancock, 22.39; 56. Jason Richardson, 22.73

Men’s 200m Dash (Final)
6. Antonio Sales, 21.39

Women’s 4x200m Relay (Final)
3. South Carolina, 1:40.34