July 22, 2003

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – South Carolina senior Aleen Bailey and freshman phenom Kenneth Ferguson continued to receive honors Tuesday as Bailey was named the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Female Athlete of the Year. Ferguson was named the SEC Freshman Outdoor Athlete of the Year, capping off a stellar first year as a Gamecock.

Bailey, a senior sprinter from St. Mary, Jamaica, captured her second and third national titles by winning the 100 and 200-meter titles at the NCAA Outdoor Track Championships. Her first national championship came as part of the 4×400-meter relay team at the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships. At the SEC Championships, Bailey finished third in the 100-meter dash and third in the 200-meter dash. She also finished second as part of the 4×100-meter relay team. Bailey was named the SEC Outdoor Track Female Athlete of the Week, April 16.

Ferguson, a sprinter and hurdler from Detroit, Mich., won the 400-meter hurdles at the SEC Championships with a time of 48.79. It was the fastest time since Auburn’s James Walker won the event in 1979. He later helped the 4×400-meter relay team claim victory. Ferguson was the runner-up in the 110-meter hurdles. At the USA Junior Championships, he claimed the 110 and 400-meter hurdle titles. Ferguson recently ran a record setting time of 13.60 in 110m hurdles at the Pan American Junior Championships, besting the previous mark of 13.71 set by Rodney Wilson in 1980. Ferguson, who won the U.S. title in June, ran the race while battling a groin injury on his way to three gold medals.

Bailey and Ferguson were both instrumental on another successful year for the Gamecock track and field program. Bailey led the women to a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships while Ferguson and the men’s team finished 10th.