March 11, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina track and field program earned a total of nine United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-America honors following the performances of the men’s and women’s team at the NCAA Indoor Championships last weekend in Fayetteville, Ark.

Junior Jeannelle Scheper earned first team recognition after sharing second place in the women’s high jump with a clearance of 6’2 ¾ (1.90m). Last year, she became the first Gamecock to earn the distinction in the high jump. She now has accomplished the feat three times.

The remaining Gamecocks who competed earned second team honors. Senior Jarrod Hutchen finished 12th in the men’s long jump with a mark of 24’7″ (7.49m) in his NCAA Indoor Championships debut. Hutchen is now a two-time All-American after earning honorable mention honors last year in the outdoor season.

Senior Kierre Beckles and sophomore Erika Rucker added two more All-America certificates to their resumes, after they were listed for both their individual events and as members of the 4×400-meter relay. Beckles finished 11th in the preliminaries of the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.20. Rucker narrowly missed the 400-meter run finals by .03 after running 52.88 to finish in ninth place. The two now have five All-America honors apiece. Beckles and Rucker were joined on the relay by sophomore Christal Green, who picked up her second certificate, and freshman Tyler Brockington. The quartet ran 3:35.49 to finish in 10th place in the relay.

Junior Petra Olsen made her first NCAA Indoor Championship appearance last weekend, clearing 13’9″ ¼ (4.20m) in the women’s pole vault. It is her second All-America honor, after earning the distinction in the 2012 outdoor season.