Jan. 14, 2006

Results
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Blacksburg, Va. – The South Carolina track & field team got off to a fast start this weekend, posting a pair of automatic marks and several NCAA indoor provisional qualifying marks at the Virginia Tech Invitational.

Chelsea Hammond led the way, winning the women’s long jump competition with an NCAA automatic mark of 6.52 meters (21-4.75), breaking the Rector Field House record of 6.47 meters set by North Carolina’s Ola Sesay in 2000. Amberly Nesbitt also had a school record and an automatic qualifying time of 7.26 seconds in the semifinals of the 60-meter dash. She did not compete in the finals.

Shalonda Solomon won both the 60 and the 200 meters with NCAA provisional qualifying times of 7.37 and 23.64 seconds respectively. Stephanie Smith turned in a second place finish and provisional time in the 400-meter dash, breaking the tape in 54.31 seconds. On the men’s side, Greig Cryer logged a pair of provisional marks in the long jump and triple jump, soaring 7.58 meters (24-10.50) and 15.59 meters (51-01.75) respectively. Dual-sport athlete Brook Antonio turned in a provisional qualifying mark in the weight throw with a toss of 19.24 meters (63-1.50) to place fifth in the event.

“It was a very, very good meet,” said Carolina head coach Curtis Frye. “We had a good day today and a good day yesterday. It was a great start for the team, especially on the women’s side. Obviously, Chelesa Hammond and Amberly Nesbitt looked good. I thought out girl hurdlers did well. We came into the meet a little beat up on the men’s side, with probably four of our top eight athletes out, but we hope to get them back soon,” noted Frye. “Greig Cryer had a pair of provisional marks and we expect him to get to the nationals. I was happy with Brook Antonio’s performance as well.”

Other highlights included the women’s 4×400 meter relay squad of Stephanie Smith, Tawana Watkins, Faraign Giles and Chiquita Martin, which posted a winning time of 3:41.21, just off an NCAA provisional mark. Shay Shelton won the women’s 800-meter run in a time of 2:11.01. Kemisha Whitmire placed second in the women’s triple jump with a leap of 12.57 meters (41-03.00). Cheryl Terrio just missed an NCAA provisional mark in the pole vault, tying for second after clearing 3.90 meters (12-9.50). On the men’s side, Leroy Dixon took the gold medal in the 60 meters, stopping the clock in 6.81 seconds and captured the silver medal in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.72 seconds. The men’s 4×400 meter relay quartet of Keith Hinnant, Adrian Durant, Jussi Heikkila and Jamil James placed fourth with a time of 3:17.93.

Here are the USC finalists:

MEN:

60 meters: Leroy Dixon 6.81; Johnathan Hancock 6.90.

200 meters: Leroy Dixon 21.72; Nick Lytle 22.60.

400 meters: Keith Hinnant 48.46; Sean Leyh 51.52.

500 meters: Sean Leyh 1:06.64; Nulie McCarthy 1:07.74.

800 meters: Shawn Cunningham 2:05.35.

1000 meters: Matt Hoffman 2:40.36.

Mile Run: Matt Hoffman 4:31.26; Alfred Lagat 4:51.87.

4x400m Relay: Keith Hinnant, Adrian Durant, Jussi Heikkila, Jamil James 3:17.93.

High Jump: Greg Royster 1.90m (6-2.75).

Long Jump: Greig Cryer 7.58m (24-10.50); Derek Pressley 6.81m (22-4.25).

Triple Jump: Greig Cryer 15.59m (51-01.75); Derek Pressley 14.72m (48-3.50).

Shot Put: David Zaycek 15.69m (51-05.75); Jim Mitchell 15.43m (50-7.50).

Weight Throw: Brook Antonio 19.24m (63-1.50); Tyler Trout 16.83m (55-02.75).

WOMEN:

60 meters: Shalonda Solomon 7.37.

60m Hurdles: Chelsea Hammond 8.62; Keittany Clark 8.66; Trier Young 8.83.

200 meters: Shalonda Solomon 23.64; Amberly Nesbitt 24.05.

300 meters: Faraign Giles 39.94; Chelsea Kaczmarek 40.88; Bailey Lewis 41.10; Sharee Howze 42.43; Monica King 42.87.

400 meters: Stephanie Smith 54.31; Faraign Giles 56.68; Nikeshia Brown 58.31; Bailey Lewis 58.95; Sharee Howze 59.04; Trier Young 60.25; Chelsea Kaczmarek 61.13; Monica King 61.31.

500 meters: Shay Shelton 1:13.50; Nikeshia Brown 1:17.72.

800 meters: Shay Shelton 2:11.01; Anna Petrov 2:29.32.

1000 meters: Rebecca Chain 3:04.66; Nicki Breves 3:11.37; Anna Petrov 3:13.52.

Mile Run: Rebecca Chain 5:13.01.

4x400m Relay: Stephanie Smith, Tawana Watkins, Faraign Giles, Chiquita Martin 3:41.21; Shalonda Solomon, Shay Shelton, Sharee Howze, Bailey Lewis 3:56.30; Ronetta Alexander, Trier Young, Nikeshia Brown, Monica King 4:14.70.

High Jump: Chelsea Hammond 1.69m (5-6.50); Monica Bozenski 1.69m (5-6.50); Keittiany Clarke 1.59m (5-2.50); Brittney James 1.59m (5-2.50).

Pole Vault: Cheryl Terrio 3.90m (12-9.50); Liza Todd 3.35m (10-11.75); Vica Shobe 3.35m (10-11.75); Marissa Garcia-Quintana 3.20m (10-6.00).

Long Jump: Chelsea Hammond 6.52m (21-4.75); Kemesha Whitmire 5.92m (19-5.25); Brittney James 5.83m (19-1.50); Keittany Clarke 5.61m (18-5.00).

Triple Jump: Kemisha Whitmire 12.57m (41-3.00).

Shot Put: Precious Akins 13.36m (43-10.00).

Weight Throw: Precious Akins 17.95m (58-10.75).