March 24, 2006

The South Carolina men’s and women’s track and field teams logged 10 NCAA regional qualifying marks as the second day of the Walt Disney World Invitational came to a close on Friday.

NCAA indoor 200-meter champion Shalonda Solomon led the Gamecock contingent with a scintillating effort in her first outdoor meet of the season. The sophomore from Inglewood, Calif. easily won the one-turn race in a time of 22.77 seconds, over a second faster than the 23.96 cutoff standard for the regional meet, and just off her personal best time of 22.74 seconds on an outdoor track.

Amberly Nesbitt looked to be in mid-season form in winning the 100-meter dash. Nesbitt, a sophomore from Greenville, S.C. who earned an All-America certificate in the 60-meter dash indoors, was clocked in a personal best 11.30 seconds in taking the 100-meter gold medal.

Sophomore hurdler Jason Richardson continued to make progress after being injured for much of the indoor season. The Cedar Hill, Texas product turned in the fastest time in the 110-meter hurdle prelims, posting a regional qualifying time of 13.80 seconds, a full half-second better than the minimum standard.

Senior Brook Antonio logged a pair of NCAA regional marks, finishing second in both the discus (52.21m, 171-3) and hammer throw (59.63m, 195-8). Precious Akins matched Antonio in the discus by logging a regional qualifying toss of 54.30m (178-2) in earning the win. She also placed second in the hammer throw with a best mark of 51.66 meters (169-6).

Senior Cheryl Terrio, who earned an All-America certificate at the NCAA Indoor Championships, won the pole vault competition in her first outdoor meet of the season by clearing 3.95 meters (12-11.50), earning a trip to the regional meet.

The Gamecocks had a pair of runners, one male and one female, post regional qualifying times in the 400 meter hurdles. Thomas Hilliard finished sixth in a time of 52.46 seconds, while Chiquita Martin earned a silver medal with a second place finish in a time of 59.88 seconds.

Keith Hinnant, a sophomore from Bay Shore, N.Y., also turned in a regional qualifying time in the 400-meter dash, stopping the clock in 46.78 seconds to finish second.

Other USC highlights included indoor national qualifier Shay Shelton winning the 800 meters in 2:10.41, the USC women taking first place in both the 4×200 (1:33.80) and 1600m sprint medley (4:02.0h) relays and Greig Cryer finishing second in the long jump competition with a wind-aided leap of 7.79 meters (25-6.75).

The meet will conclude on the Disney Complex on Saturday.

USC RESULTS:

WOMEN:

100 meters: 1. Amberly Nesbitt 11.30; 17. Dishari’ck Howze 12.26; 20. Kemesha Whitmire 12.44.

200 meters: 1. Shalonda Solomon 22.77; 10. Natasha Hastings 25.26; 18. Dishari’ck Howze 25.93; 26. Reanna Townsend 26.77.

400 meters: 6. Keisha Brown 55.6h; 11. Faraign Giles 57.6h.

800 meters: 1. Shay Shelton 2:10.41; 6. Kelsey Bristol 2:21.38; 9. Alyse Shayer 2:26.25.

1500 meters: 8. Kelsey Bristol 4:56.40.

100m Hurdles (prelims): 2. Keke Clarke 13.67; 4. Chiquita Martin 13.94; 6. Brittney James 14.04; 7. Trier Young 14.24.

400m Hurdles: 2. Chiquita Martin 59.88; 3. Keke Clarke 1:01.12; 5. Trier Young 1:02.00.

4x200m Relay: 1. South Carolina 1:33.80.

1600m Sprint Medley: 1. South Carolina 4:02.0h.

Discus: 1. Precious Akins 54.30m (178-2); 4. Keri Groover 45.52m (149-4).

Hammer Throw: 2. Precious Akins 51.66m (169-6).

Long Jump: 4. Brittney James 5.85m (19-2.50).

Pole Vault: 1. Cheryl Terrio 3.95m (12-11.50);4. Vica Shobe 3.50m (11-5.75); 6. Liza Todd 3.35m (10-11.75); 12. Emily Pease 3.20m (10-6.00).

MEN:

100 meters: 5. Nick Lytle 10.62; 11. Greig Cryer 10.87.

200 meters: 11. Jamil James 21.93.

400 meters: 2. Keith Hinnant 46.78.

800 meters: 7. Johnny Baez 1:53.46; 8. Shawn Cunningham 1:53.92; 21. Jonathan Fortenberry 2:06.67.

110m Hurdles (prelims): 1. Jason Richardson 13.80; 6. Thomas Hilliard 14.28; 8. Greg Royster 15.91.

400m Hurdles: 6. Thomas Hilliard 52.46; 7. Jason Richardson 52.60; 11. Jussi Heikkila 53.65.

1600m Sprint Medley: 2. South Carolina 2:23.98.

Discus: 2. Brook Antonio 52.21m (171-3); 6. Tyler Trout 48.01m (157-6); T14. Jason Cook 42.95m (140-11); 16. David Zaycek 42.65m (139-11); 18. Jim Mitchell 42.22m (138-6); 23. Greg Royster 33.06m (108-5); 24. Curt McGill 32.94m (108-1); -. Joe Schroeder Foul.

Hammer Throw: 2. Brook Antonio 59.63m (195-8); 11. Tyler Trout 51.41m (168-8); 13. Jason Cook 48.23m (158-3).

Long Jump: 2. Greig Cryer 7.79mw (25-6.75).