Feb. 10, 2012

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By Miquel Jacobs
Assistant Media Relations Director

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – South Carolina senior hurdler Kierre Beckles, junior long jumper Jarrod Hutchen and freshman sprinter Damiere Byrd all improved their NCAA prospects Friday night in the first day of competition at the Tyson Invitational on the campus of the University of Arkansas.

Beckles ran a season best time of 8.24 in the women’s 60-meter hurdle semis to place third earn a spot in Saturday’s final. The time keeps the All-American in the national top 12 in the event, and she will shoot for an improvement in Saturday’s final to be run at 8 p.m.

Hutchen, the junior college transfer in his first season as a Gamecock, had a best attempt of 24’9 ¼ (7.55m) in the men’s long jump championship to take sixth overall in the event. Hutchen’s mark improves him into the national top 20.

Byrd continued his strong freshman indoor campaign with three runs in the 60-meter dash. After running 6.75 in the prelims, Byrd improved to 6.72 in both the semis and the finals to place sixth overall in the event. The two-sport athlete currently has the top 60-meter dash time for a freshman in the NCAA and has pushed himself into the national top 30.

Competition at the Tyson Invitational resumes Saturday morning with the men’s pole vault at 11 a.m.

CLEMSON, S.C. – South Carolina traveled a group of middle distance and field event athletes to the Tiger Paw Invitational and came away with a handful of season best times on the first day of competition.

A pair of multi-event athletes saw the most action Friday with Chris Sharp competing in three events on the men’s side, and Sarah Graham competing in three events on the women’s side. Both improved their 60-meter hurdle times in some of the final tune-ups before competing in the pentathlon and heptathlon at the SEC Indoor Championships.

The Gamecocks earned top 10 finishes from Vince DePiano in the men’s 1000-meter run, Meredith Mill in the women’s mile at a season best 5:03.99, and in from Breanna Radford and Katie Vuckovich in the weight throw.