May 12, 2006
Fayetteville, Ark. – Posting the highest hammer finish since 1998, two Gamecocks threw personal bests to score in the men’s hammer at the SEC Outdoor Championships Friday afternoon in the second day of the meet. Later, KeKe Clark finished third in the heptathlon, while Spring Valley’s Greg Royster finished fourth in the decathlon.
USC picked up three new/improved NCAA regional marks on the day and advanced eight to the Sunday’s finals of five events – including Shalonda Solomon’s track record in the 200m to pace the women’s team.
“We are going after everything we got here,” said USC Head Coach Frye who saw his women win the SEC title last year for the third time in seven years. “Overall, we are not ahead, we are not behind – we are just where we should be. The women are still on pace to finish fourth and the men fifth or sixth. Greg Royster had a heck of a day as a senior in the decathlon. Bailey Lewis was a pleasant surprise with her advancement in the women’s 400m hurdles and Thomas Hilliard and Jason Richardson advancing in the 400m hurdles was huge. This is a tough meet, but we have two more days of competition.”
Clark scored 5181 points to win the bronze medal in the two-day heptathlon. In the final day she posted a 5.74m long jump, a 90′ 11 javelin throw and ran a 2:25.89 in the 800m. Teammates Reanna Townsend (10th place, 4543 points) and Chelsea Kaczmarek (11th place, 4466 points) also finished with season bests. Complete results for day two follow below.
Brook ‘Tony’ Antonio threw a personal best 198′ 6 to finish as the bronze medalist in the hammer, just 5 inches behind second place finisher Rabun Fox of LSU (198′ 11). Finishing seventh in 2004 it was a three feet PR for Antonio, who also played defensive line this past season for the Gamecock football team.
Antonio’s third place finish was the hammer highest for a Gamecock since Bert Sorin finished as the runner-up in 1998.
“The finish is bittersweet. I enter every competition to win, but I am pleased with the PR,” said Antonio.
Royster finished fourth in the decathlon with 6639 points (for complete final day results see below). Royster’s fourth place finish was the second highest for a Gamecock ever in the SEC (Fred Townsend finished third in 2002).
Tyler Trout finished eighth with a personal best throw of 186′ 9 – bettering his previous regional qualifier by almost three feet. Dave Zaycek also threw a personal best, finishing 14th at 167′ 5.
Advancing to finals of the 200m, Solomon won her heat with the best time of the day at 22.91. Teammate Amberly Nesbitt was second in her heat, also advancing to the finals at 23.44. On the men’s side Leroy Dixon was second in his heat of the 200m with an advancing time of 21.21.
“I worked on getting everything right for the finals. Last year was last year and this is a new year (on winning the 200m last year),” said Solomon, who has the fastest time in the NCAA in the 200m this year.
Known as its signature event, USC saw four runners advance to the finals of the 400m hurdles. Running a personal best for the second straight week and improving his regional time, Thomas Hilliard advanced to the finals of the 400m hurdles with a time of 51.18. Jason Richarson finished second in his heat of the 400m hurdles at 52.65 nad also advanced to the finals. On the women’s side, USC saw two advance to the finals: Chiquita Martin was second in her heat (59.38) and Bailey Lewis was sixth overall to advance (1:02.75).
Hilton Head’s Shawn Cunningham finished fourth in his heat of the 800m advancing to the finals with a time of 1:51.29. It’s the first time he has run in the finals. Indoor SEC champion Shay Shelton ran a 2:10.09, finishing fifth in her heat and did not advance.
On the women’s side Precious Akins was 13th in the hammer (173’8), followed by Kerri Groover’s 19th place finish at 150′ 1.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Friday’s Finishes at the SEC Outdoor Championship
Men
Decathlon – 2nd day
Greg Royster- 4th place – 6639 points
110m hurdles – 15.78
Discus – 107′ 9
Pole Vault – 15′ 5
Javelin – 197′ 7
1500m – 4:56.25
Curt McGill – 9th place – 5515 points
110m hurdles – 15.46
Discus – 107′ 4
Pole Vault – 13′ 1 1/2
Javelin – 118′ 4
1500m – 5:27.97
Hammer
Brook Antonio – 3rd place – 198′ 6 (PR) *
Tyler Trout – 8th place – 186′ 9 (PR) *
Dave Zaycek – 14th place – 167′ 5 (PR)
MEN’S PRELIMS – ALL FINALS ARE ON SUNDAY
200M
Leroy Dixon – 2nd in heat – 21.21 – advanced to finals
800M
Shawn Cunningham – 4th in heat – 1:51.23 – advanced to finals
Johnny Baez – 4th in heat – 1:51.87
400m Hurdles
Thomas Hilliard – 2nd in heat – 51.16 – advanced to finals with PR *
Jason Richardson – 2nd in heat – 52.65 – advanced to finals
Jussi Heikkila – 4th in heat – 52.81
Women FINALS
Hammer
Precious Akins – 13th place – 173′ 8
Kerri Groover – 19th place – 150′ 1
Heptathlon – 2nd day
KeKe Clark – 3rd place — 5181 points – Personal Best Score
Long Jump – 5.74 m
Javelin – 90′ 11
800m – 2:25.89
Reanna Townsend – 10th place – points
Long Jump – 5.52 m
Javelin – 83′ 4
800m – 2:48.53
Chelsea Kayzmarek – 11th place – 4466 points
Long Jump – 5.25 m
Javelin – 107′ 9
800m – 2:24.39 (2nd overall)
WOMEN PRELIMS – all finals on Sunday
200M
Shalonda Solomon – won heat – 22.91 – advanced to finals No. 1
Amberly Nesbitt – 2nd in heat – 23.44 – advanced to finals
400m Hurdles
Chiquita Martin – 2nd in heat – 59.38 – advanced to finals No. 3
Bailey Lewis – 5th in heat – 1:02.47 – advanced to finals
800M
Shay Shelton – 4th in heat – 2:10.09
* – NCAA regional mark/time
