April 26, 2003
Penn Relays Meet Notes
Taking on the World
In a look back at Carolina past, three former South Carolina athletes made their mark on the Penn Relays, competing in the “USA vs. the World” series. Terrance Trammell, a 13-time All-American, ran the second leg of the USA High Performance team that placed third in the 4x100m relay with a time of 38.86.
In the women’s 4x400m relay, 20-time All-American Demetria Washington anchored the USA Red team that easily won with a time of 3:26.65. Washington’s former teammate at Carolina and 15-time All-American Lisa Barber ran the lead-off leg of the USA Blue team that placed second with a time of 3:28.47. Both Washington and Barber were members of the 2002 Gamecock team that won the NCAA Outdoor Championship.
Setting the Standard
The Gamecocks won the College Men’s Shuttle Hurdles Championship of America as USC’s quartet of Corey Taylor, Fred Townsend, Charles Ryan and Kenneth Ferguson ran an American and World-Record time of 53.94. It eclipsed the previous collegiate record of 54.40 set by the 1981 Tennessee team that featured Willie Gault on the anchor leg and surpassing the world record previously held by a foursome that featured current Carolina Volunteer Assistant Coach Allen Johnson, set in 1999.
Tricky Hurdles
Sophomore All-American Lashinda Demus has a strained arm as she was injured on the women’s shuttle hurdle relay that had a hurdle crew error. The heat ran initially at the correct time, but misplaced hurdles on the track by the Penn Relays hurdle crew caused the race to be rerun as numerous teams were unable to finish the race. Demus ran under a misplaced hurdle, which caused her to suffer a strained arm, but still ran in the second running of the heat. “Lashinda has a strained arm but still came through,” said Coach Frye. “We’re just trying to do the best we can. Our women are in the championship of the 4x200m and 4x400m relays. We won the 4x100m and 4x400m relays last year, so we’re doing well. We’re a little beat up but our younger kids are stepping up. They are gaining some valuable experience this weekend.”
Golden Oppurtunity
Head coach Curtis Frye is wearing the “yellow hat” this weekend, a prestigious honor for serving as the honorary college women’s referee. He is one of only five honorary referees at the Penn Relays. “The yellow hat is representative of the meet referee, the person who overturns or upholds officials’ rulings,” said Frye. “For college coaches, it’s an honorary award. It goes to the coach who has the most wins who hasn’t been awarded the honor before. In 100 years, only 100 other people have been given such an honor and I am proud to have been selected.”
Close but No Cigar
The women’s 4x400m relay team fell short of winning their fourth straight 4x400m relay title as the foursome of Shevon Stoddart, Tiffany Ross, Aleen Bailey, and Lashinda Demus finished third with a time of 3:32.15. Texas won the race, setting a meet record with a time of 3:27.64.
An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
The men’s 4x400m relay team was forced to scratch their entry in the championship run as injuries plague the team. “We had to scratch our men’s 4x400m relay team because Otukile Lekote is ill and Kenneth Ferguson has strained a hamstring a bit,” said Frye. “They both could run, but it’s too early in the year and there’s too much left for them to go out and end our season by getting hurt in this cold weather.”
Qualifying Marks Set at Penn Relays
* – Denotes Qualifying mark previously set earlier in season
110m Hurdles (Men - 14.40)
* Kenneth Ferguson 13.86* Corey Taylor 13.92
400m Hurdles (Men - 52.70; Women - 1:01.50)
* Kenneth Ferguson 49.63* Lashinda Demus 56.90* Tiffany Ross 57.72* Shevon Stoddart 59.97* Tawana Watkins 1:00.80
4x100m Relay (Women - 46.20)
* South Carolina 45.09
4x400m Relay (Men - 3:11.50; Women - 3:45.50)
* South Carolina Women 3:32.15* South Carolina Men 3:06.31
Discus (Women - 45.72m, 150')
Keri Groover 48.59m (159'05")
Shot Put (Women - 13.90m, 45' 7.25")
* India Odum 14.30m (46' 11")
Long Jump (Men - 7.32m, 24' 0.25"; Women - 5.90m, 19' 4.25")
* Chelsea Hammond 6.37m (20' 10.75")* Kemesha Whitmire 6.14m (20' 1.75")* Greig Cryer 7.47m (24' 6.25")
