Feb. 7, 2003

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The sixth ranked Gamecock men and fifth ranked Gamecock women track and field teams travel to Gainesville, Fla. this weekend and face nine Southeastern Conference schools at the meet. Among the competition will be the No. 1 ranked LSU men and the top ranked Florida women.

In the SEC, all 11 men’s teams are ranked in the Top 25 (Vanderbilt does not field a men’s track team) while six of the 12 women’s teams are also ranked.

Leading the men this weekend will be Junior Otukile Lekote who is undefeated in the 800m race this year. He recently set the world’s fastest indoor time in the 800m for the year last week at the adidas Boston Indoor Event with a time of 1:48.07. The men’s team dropped to sixth place after a week at the number three spot.

On the women’s side, last week in Boston at the adidas Boston Indoor Event, sprinter Lashinda Demus was the highest finisher for the Gamecock women as she placed third in the 400m with a time of 53.06. Teammate Demetria Washington finished fourth with a time of 53.58 and Aleen Bailey competed in the 60m dash finishing sixth with a time of 7.38. The women are currently ranked fifth, falling two spots after a week at No. 3.

This meet is a precursor to the SEC Championships, which will be held at the O’Connell Center in Gainesville beginning Friday, February 28.