April 26, 2013

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina track and field had four top-10 individual performances to go with four relay teams advancing out of prelims to highlight Friday’s busy day at Penn Relays. Jeannelle Scheper finished 10th in the high jump in the Championship competition, while Ceci Kryst came in second in the Eastern competition of the triple jump for the women. On the men’s side, Jarrod Hutchen finished fourth in the Championship long jump, and Jermaine Collier took seventh in the Championship 400m hurdles.

Kryst kicked things off for the Gamecocks with a personal best in the triple jump. The senior turned in a 12.25m w (40-2.25) to take second in the Eastern competition. Scheper went on to score a 1.76m (5-9.25) in the championship high jump to take 10th place. Kierre Beckles went on to post the third-highest time (13.40) in the prelims of the 100m hurdles to advance to Saturday’s finals.

Two of the Gamecocks’ three women’s relay teams in competition advanced to Saturday finals as well. Tyler Brockington, Ahty Johnson, Vashti Bandy and Tamera Harris posted the fourth-fastest time in the 4x100m (45.48). Brockington, Bandy, Melekia Simpson and Christal Green ran the fifth-fastest time in the 4x200m (1:35.30) to advance as well.

On the men’s side, Hutchen placed fourth in the long jump Championship, posting a 7.35m (24-1.5). Collier ran a season-best 52.52 to take seventh in the 400m hurdles Championship. Two of the men’s three relay teams reached Saturday’s finals. In the 4x200m, Chris Royster, Eric Winfrey, Clayton Gravesande and Chris Walker ran a 1:23.98 to rank fifth in the prelims. Kendall Kee, Royster, Dondre Echols and Winfrey combined for a 40.70 in the 4x100m to advance to their final as well.

Action in Philadelphia wraps up tomorrow as the Gamecocks finish their final regular season meet of the season. Before the Championship of America relay races get started at 1:20 p.m., redshirt junior Dorian Johnson starts the day for the Gamecocks at 9 a.m. in the triple jump. Redshirt sophomore Joshua Suttmeier is slated to compete in the javelin at 11:00 a.m. and senior Kierre Beckles, who is ranked in the top five regionally, runs for the 100-meter hurdle championship at 3:15 p.m.

Tomorrow, NBC will showcase the USA vs. The World series from 1-3 p.m. EST. Several of the Gamecock relays are scheduled during the time frame. Coverage will continue on NBC Universal from 3-5 p.m. to round out four complete hours of live coverage from Franklin Field.