June 24, 2006

Indianapolis, Ind. – Running as the only collegiate in the finals of the 100m – with all rounds being contested on Friday because of severe storms on Thursday evening – rising junior Shalonda Solomon finished eighth in the 100m at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Indianapolis, Ind.

“There are so many Carolina athletes out here that are doing well and really representing our program,” said USC Head Coach Curtis Frye. “While many former Gamecocks have moved on and are training elsewhere, Gamecocks fans would be proud to see the show they are putting on here. Miki Barber is back healthy, she got sixth and that’s great. We had three former advance in the 400m hurdles, with the two women winning their heat, Otis Harris is running really well. I am proud of our program and proud of our kids. Hopefully some good things happen tomorrow in the 110m hurdles for Jason Richardson as well.”

Solomon ran a 11.41 to finish eighth as Marion Jones won with a time of 11.10. Former NCAA champion Miki Barber ran three personal bests on the day, finishing sixth at 11. Solomon will run her signature event, the 200m, on Saturday-Sunday.

“Right now we are excited she was eighth in the 100m. The 200m is a good event, but there is strong competition, but we expect her to do well,” said USC Head Coach Curtis Frye.

In the semi-finals, Solomon was fourth in her heat, running two down from Marion Jones, hitting 11.37. In the same heat, Barber, who ran a personal best in the morning by winning her prelim, posted another personal best in the semi-finals finishing second only to Jones (11.22) with a time of 11.27.

Natasha Hastings ran a 51.99 in the semi-finals of the 400m and she finished fifth in her heat and did not advance to the finals. She was ninth overall.

Former Gamecock and two-time Olympic medalist Otis Harris, Jr. was third in his heat at 45.38 and advanced to the finals.

Chiquita Martin was sixth in her prelim heat of the 400m hurdles with a time of 58.82. She did not advance.

Also in the 400m hurdles, former Gamecock NCAA champions Tiffany Ross-Williams (55.17) and Lashinda Demus (55.10) easily won their heats and advanced to the semi-finals. On the men’s side former Gamecock All-American Kenneth Ferguson was fourth in his heat of the semis, hitting 49.71 to advance to the finals.

Greig Cryer of Charleston was 10th overall in the long jump, hitting the sand at 25′ 2. He was ¾ of an inch out of eighth place (finals).

“I’m disappointed, but I guess I have to look at the whole year. I have to keep working hard and it will come,” said Cryer, a two-time All-American who will compete in the triple jump this weekend.

Former Gamecock All-American Tony Allmond jumped 24′ 6 1/2 to finish 14th overall. Allmond recently finished his degree in sociology at USC.

The Championships are the final stop of USATF’s 2006 Visa Championships Series, and will be contested at the IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium on the campus of IUPUI in downtown Indianapolis. It is the selection meet for the IAAF World Cup of Athletics, which will take place later that summer (Athens, Greece). The 2006 USA Outdoor Junior Championships take place concurrently with the Outdoor Championships, as the selection meet for the 2006 World Junior Championships in Beijing, China.

The 2006 AT&T USA Outdoor Championships will be televised live on ESPN2 from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, and from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, June 25. All times are Eastern.

FRIDAY, JUNE 23 RESULTS