March 7, 2005
Blacksburg, Va./Ames, Iowa – South Carolina men’s and women’s track and field traveled to Virginia Tech and Iowa State last weekend for their last chance to earn NCAA qualifying times/marks for this weekend’s NCAA Indoor Championship in Fayetteville, Ark. The Gamecocks totaled 10 qualifying time/marks between the two meets.
At the Virginia Tech Last Chance Invitational, senior All-Americans Khalilah Carpenter and Alexis Joyce earned provisional qualifying times in the 60m dash with first and second place finish times of 7.33 and 7.35, respectively. Carpenter’s time was a personal best and the second fastest time for a Gamecock this season. Freshman Shalonda Solomon ran a provisional qualifying time of 7.36. Solomon also ran a 23.65 in the 200m for her second NCAA qualifying time of the meet. Senior All-American Tiffany Ross-Williams ran a provisional qualifying time of 8.35 in the 60m hurdles.
In the field at Virginia Tech, junior All-American Kemesha Whitemire jumped 20’2 _ in the long jump for a season best and provisional qualifying mark. Junior Greig Cryer leaped 24’11 _, also a season high and provisional qualifying mark.
At Iowa State, freshman Jason Richardson finished first in the 60m hurdles semifinals with a provisional qualifying time of 7.83, while the men’s 4x400m relay finished sixth in the finals with a provisional qualifying time of 3:06.87, the fastest time so far this season and the third fastest time in school history.
For the women, junior All-American Tawana Watkins shed 10 seconds off her season best in the 800m for a fifth place finish and a provisional qualifying time of 2:08.59.
South Carolina men’s and women’s teams totaled seven provisional qualifying times and marks in Blacksburg, Va., while earning three in Ames, Iowa.
The Gamecocks will be headed to the NCAA Indoor Championships held this week in Fayetteville, Ark. at the Randal Tyson Track Center. Results will be available following the meet at www.uscsports.com.
