April 14, 2005

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina men’s and women’s track and field teams will be returning to Knoxville, Tenn. for the second consecutive week for the 39th Sea Ray Relays held on April 13-16 at the Tom Black Track on the University of Tennessee campus.

The currently ranked Gamecocks will be among 107 teams/affiliations participating in this weekend’s meet that will include approximately 1,350 men’s and women’s collegiate and post-collegiate athletes. The decathlon and heptathlon are the only events that contest on Wednesday and Thursday, while other events kick-off on Friday, starting at 8:45 a.m. in the field with the women’s hammer and 12:40 p.m. with the men’s steeplechase.

South Carolina men’s and women’s teams are coming off an impressive performance at the 33rd Gatorade Classic, SEC vs. Big Ten, held last weekend in Knoxville. The two teams totaled 12 titles and over 30 regional qualifying times in the meet, including two women’s record-breaking relays. The women’s 4x100m relay team broke an eight-year old meet record (43.58), while the 4x400m relay broke an 18-year old meet record and recorded the second fastest time in the world this season (3:32.14).

Other highlights for the women’s team included junior All-American Tiffany Ross-Williams who captured the title in the 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles and ran a leg of the record-breaking 4x400m relay. Freshman All-American Shalonda Solomon, who was named SEC Runner of the Week after last week’s performance, finished first in both the 100m and 200m dashes and ran a leg of the record-breaking 4x100m relay. Both athletes are ranked in this week’s Trackwire Dandy Dozen.

For the men, senior All-American Rodney Martin won the 100m and 200m dashes, while junior Leroy Dixon finished second in both events, as well. Martin has been ranked all season, while Dixon entered the rankings this week for the first time as No. 11 in both the 100m and 200m dashes. Also a highlight for the men’s team is freshman All-American Jason Richardson. Richardson finished first in the 110m hurdles and second in the 400m hurdles last weekend in Knoxville. Currently, Richardson is ranked in both events.

Results will be available each evening following the meet at www.uscsports.com.