Complete Results | Saturday Heat Sheets

Greensboro, N.C. – Charleston’s Greig Cryer, a senior with the South Carolina track team, finished as the runner-up in the long jump at the NCAA East Region and is the first Gamecock to qualify for the NCAA Championships June 7-10 in Sacramento.

“It was a great day. A great day for both sides. The women still have a shot to win it, but Georgia and Miami also had good days,” said USC Head Coach Curtis Frye. “The men still have a shot at a top four finish and that would be outstanding. The rain didn’t bother anyone. It actually may have helped some of our people because it gave them more time to rest between rounds.”

Fifteen qualified in 10 events for Saturday’s finals with Shalonda Solomon setting the East Region record in the 100m. In addition, the women’s 4x100m relay advanced to the finals with the third fastest time of the day at 44.07. The relay included Natasha Hastings, Amberly Nesbitt, Faraign Giles and Shalonda Solomon. The USC men’s and women’s 4x400m relays both qualified for the finals as well.

USC will have five athletes compete in double individual events tomorrow: Shalonda Solomon and Amberly Nesbitt will both run the finals of the 100m and 200m; Leroy Dixon will run the finals of the 100m and 200m; Jason Richardson will double in the 110m hurdles and the 400m hurdles and Chiquita Martin will also run the 100m hurdles and the 400m hurdles.

Cryer jumped 25′ 5 to finish as the runner-up after winning the long jump title last year. He missed out winning by 3 CM. “I was in seventh going into the finals and I knew I had my work cut out for me,” said Cryer.

Shalonda Solomon (11.15) and Amberly Nesbitt (11.28) qualified 1-2 in the 100m. The 11.15 by Solomon broke the East Region record set world champion Lauryn Williams in 2003. The 11.28 by Nesbitt was a personal best.

“It was about time (for the PR),” said Nesbitt, a native of Greenville. “It felt good.”

Solomon followed up her 100m time by crossing the finish line with the top time of the day when she won her heat in the 200 (22.81). Nesbitt also made the finals of the 200m, running 23.52 to qualify for the finals.

Jason Richardson ran a personal best 13.43 to win his heat of the 110m hurdles and advance to the finals with the fastest time of the day. Richardson later ran his second personal best of the day by winning his heat in the 400m hurdles at 50.11.

“My dad and sister are here so I was relaxed and run well. I am having fun at this meet. When Ronnetta when out and ran 13.15 in the 100m hurdles I wanted to go out and maximize my potential,” said Richardson.

Thomas Hilliard shattered his own personal best in the 400m hurdles to win his heat at 50.62 and advance to the finals as the second-fastest time of the day behind Richardson’s 50.20. Hilliard was third in his heat of the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.93, but did not advance to the finals. He finished ninth overall.

“Jason’s race looked great,” said Frye. “Thomas’ race was clean – real nice.”

Natasha Hastings won her heat of the 400m at 52.60 to advance to the finals. Also advancing to the finals was Stephanie Smith a runner-up finish in her heat, crossing the tape at 53.85.

Leroy Dixon won the 100m with a time of 10.32. He advanced to the finals in the 200m as well, hitting 21.01 to finish as the runner-up in his heat.

Running what looked like an easy 13.15 to win her heat of the 100m hurdles and advance to the finals, Ronnetta Alexander disagreed. “It felt hard,” said Alexander. “But if I stay forward tomorrow I should be alright.” Also advancing to the finals of the 100m hurdles was Chiquita Martin, who finished second in her heat at 13.58. KeKe Clark ran a 13.59 to finish third in her heat and was the first time not to qualify for the finals (ninth overall).

Martin later qualified in the 400m hurdles by running a 59.13 to finish third in her heat.

Shay Sheldon was second in her heat to finish sixth overall and advance to the finals with a time of 2:06.81. “It felt ok,” said Sheldon.

Johnny Baez ran a personal best 1:50.03 in the 800m, finishing fifth in his heat. HE finished 10th overall and did not advance to the finals.

In other field event finals, Trey Bell and Dan McKenzie both no-heighted in the pole vault. Precious Akins was 17th in the shot put (46′ 6).

NCAA EAST REGION TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP

Men’s Results

Long Jump Finals
Greig Cryer – second place – 25’5 – NCAA qualifier

Hammer Finals
Brook Antonio – 11th place – 190′ 5 – No Finals
Tyler Trout – 20th place – 176′ 3 – No Finals

100m Prelims
Leroy Dixon – 10.31 – won heat – No. 3 – Finals

200m Prelims
Leroy Dixon – 21.01 – 2nd in heat – Finals

110m Hurdles Prelims
Jason Richardson – 13.43 – won heat – PR – Finals
Thomas Hilliard – 13.93 – 3rd in heat – No Finals

400m Hurdles Prelims
Jason Richardson – 50.11 – won heat – No. 1 time – PR – Finals
Thomas Hilliard – 50.62 – won heat – No. 2 time – PR – Finals
Jussi Heikkila – 51.96 – 3rd in heat – No Finals

800m Prelims
Johnny Baez – 1:50.03 – 3rd in heat – PR – No Finals

Women’s Results
4x100m relay Prelims – 44.07 – won heat – Finals
(Hastings, Nesbitt, Giles, Solomon)

100m Prelims
Shalonda Solomon – 11.15 – won heat – No. 1 time – Finals – EAST REGION RECORD
Amberly Nesbitt – 11.28 – won heat – No. 2 time – PR -Finals

200m Prelims
Shalonda Solomon – 22.81 – won heat – No. 1 time – Finals
Amberly Nesbitt – 23.52 – won heat – Finals

400m Prelims
Natasha Hastings – 52.60 – won heat – No. 1 time – Finals
Stephanie Smith – 53.85 – 2nd in heat – Finals
Faragn Giles – 54.08 – 2nd in heat – No Finals

800m Prelims
Shay Sheldon – 2:06.81 – 2nd in heat – Finals

100m Hurdle Prelims
Ronnetta Alexander – 13.15 – won heat – No. 1 time – Finals
Chiquita Martin – 13.59 – 2nd in heat – Finals

400m Hurdle Prelims
Chiquita Martin – 59.13 – 3rd in heat – Finals

Shot Put Finals
Precious Akins – 46′ 6 – 17th – No Finals

Long Jump Finals
Kemesha Whitmire – 18’9 – 31st – No Finals

PR – Personal Best