Jan. 23, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Junior Shalonda Solomon was named Southeastern Conference Runner of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday. Solomon, who won the honor three times during the indoor season last year and did likewise outdoors, is South Carolina’s first recipient for the 2007 campaign.

At the Rod McCravy Memorial last week, Solomon won first place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.16. It was an automatic NCAA qualifying time for the defending national champion in the event. The Inglewood, Calif., native also registered a provisional time in the 60m at 7.37. Solomon took second place for her effort in the 60.

In the latest Trackwire Dandy Dozen rankings, Solomon is rated as the No. 1 runner in the nation for the 200, and she is seventh in the 60. Her time in the 200 at Kentucky stands as the top figure in the country among college athletes in 2007. Last year, Solomon had the fastest time by an American in the 200 during the indoor season when she ran 22.57 to capture the NCAA title.

The Gamecocks continue their season with the multi-event athletes competing in Lynchburg, Va., at the On Track Open, while the rest of the squad will be in Gainesville, Fla., for the Diet Pepsi Invitational.