Jan. 27, 2012

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By Miquel Jacobs
Assistant Media Relations Director

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The first day of the Rod McCravy Memorial Classic saw the Gamecock track and field team compete in six separate field events at the Nutter Field House, site of the upcoming SEC Indoor Championships.

Sophomore Petra Olsen had the top finish of the day for South Carolina after taking third in the pole vault at 12’8 ¼ (3.87m). On the men’s team, Jarrod Hutchen took fourth overall in the long jump at 23’3 ¼ (7.09m).

Dorian Johnson took 10th in the long jump at 22’4 ½ and was followed by Chris Sharp in 24th (20’2 ½) and James Adams in 29th (19’5 ¼). Sharp also cleared 6’2 ¼ (1.89m) in the high jump to take seventh overall.

A trio of women’s multi-event athletes hit season bests in the long jump. Junior Ceci Kryst placed 16th overall in a field of nearly 50 athletes with a mark of 18’3 ¾ (5.58m) to lead the Gamecock contingent. Three freshmen also competed in the long jump with Chalese Davis taking 26th at a season best mark of 17’7 (5.36m), Sarah Graham hitting a season best 16’1 ½ (4.91m) and Jemekia Wilson hitting a mark of 13’4 (4.06m).

All four women’s weight throwers earned season best marks, led by Breanna Radford’s 16th-place finish at 53’9 ¼ (16.39m). Stacee Roberts placed 16th at 51’1 ¾ (15.59m), Katie Vuckovich threw 48’8 ¾ (14.85m) in her first weight throw appearance of the season, and redshirt freshman Kaysee Sullivan threw 43’8 (13.31m).

Louis Day took 14th overall in the men’s weight throw at 51’9 ¼ (15.78m), an early season best for the redshirt junior. Classmate Chris Campbell placed 15th at 51’0 (15.54m), and redshirt freshman Andrew Seay placed 19th at 49’7 ¼ (15.12m).

Competition resumes Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. with the women’s high jump in the final day of competition at the Rod McCravy Memorial Classic.