Barber Named to 2018 SEC Women's Legends Class
Jan. 4, 2018
2018 SEC Women’s Legend Miki Barber
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — University of South Carolina track & field alumna Miki Barber has been selected as Carolina’s 2018 Southeastern Conference Women’s Legend, the conference office announced Wednesday. Barber will join a distinguished class of former student-athletes, coaches and administrators from across the league’s 14 institutions to be honored at the 2018 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament.
A member of the Carolina track & field program from 1999-2003, Barber left an indelible mark as one of the greatest athletes in Gamecock history. The Livingston, N.J., native finished her collegiate career with five NCAA national championships, 11 SEC championships and 20 All-America honors. She was a member of the United States Olympic Team that competed at the 2000 Sydney Games, and she was part of Carolina’s team title at the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
“There is no one more deserving of this honor than Miki Barber, and I am extremely proud of her,” South Carolina head coach Curtis Frye said. “Miki accomplished everything she possibly could at South Carolina, from SEC and national championships to a spot on the Olympic Team in 2000. But more than that, she’s an awesome person with an incredible spirit. She was a tremendous leader from the moment she stepped on campus, leading morning runs in her very first week as a freshman, and she was always there to help every single one of her teammates. I am so proud to be able to count her as a member of our Carolina family.”
Individually, Barber won the 2000 NCAA championship in the indoor 200m dash and the outdoor 400m dash. She was also part of two 4x400m relay national titles and one NCAA-winning performance in the 4x100m relay. At the conference level, she captured five individual titles in the 400m, another at 200m and five relay victories. She was inducted into Carolina’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.
Still an active professional athlete, Barber’s success has extended far beyond her Gamecock career. She won the 100m title at the 2007 Pan American Games and was part of the USA’s 4x100m relay title at the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan. Her career continues to this day, and she capped her 2017 season by qualifying for the USATF Championships in the 400m.
Barber is one of 14 members of the 2018 SEC Women’s Legends class. The 14 legends will be spotlighted on Monday’s and Thursday’s throughout the women’s basketball season on SECSports.com and the SEC’s social media channels.
Last but not least, the class will be honored at the 2018 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament, February 28 — March 4 in Nashville, Tenn. Each legend will be honored during halftime of their team’s first game of the tournament. All 14 individuals will also be honored as a group, as well as participate in an autograph session during the tournament. Complimentary posters of the Legends will be available at the session.
UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS
The Gamecocks open their 2018 campaign on Saturday, Jan. 13, when they compete at the Navy Winter Invitational in Annapolis, Md. The meet is the first of 20 competitions for Carolina in 2018, including home meets March 23-24, April 7 and April 21 at Sheila & Morris Cregger Track in Columbia.
