June 26, 2010

DES MOINES, Iowa – Two former Gamecocks ran in the 100-meter dash finals while two other South Carolina affiliated athletes qualified for their respective finals in day two of the USA Outdoor Championships at Drake Stadium.

Olympian Miki Barber placed fourth in the women’s 100-meter dash finals at 11.43. Earlier in the day, five Gamecocks competed in the semifinal round – the most athletes representing one university than any other program in the event. In the semifinal, Barber was seventh at 11.45 to qualify. Shalonda Solomon missed the cut by one spot, taking ninth t 11.46. Lisa Barber was 12th at 11.51. Current Gamecock juniors Lakya Brookins (14th) and Shayla Mahan (15th) rounded out the Carolina effort with times of 11.64 and 11.73, respectively.

In the men’s 100-meter final, Leroy Dixon took sixth at 10.36. Earlier in the day, he qualified by running 10.39 to take fourth in the semifinal. Rodney Martin was 10th in the semis with a time of 10.48.

Junior Johnny Dutch claimed second in the men’s 400-meter hurdle semifinals with a time of 49.69. Dutch, who won the silver medal at the 2009 USA Championships, will compete for his first USA Championship gold medal Saturday at 2:18 p.m.

Former Gamecock Natasha Hastings took second in the women’s 400-meter dash at 51.10 to advance to the final. Graduated senior Brandi Cross missed the cut by one spot after running 52.28 to place ninth. Despite running the seventh fastest time of the semifinal, Cross did not advance after taking fifth in her heat while two slower times from the other earned automatic bids by virtue of finishing in the top four of their heat.

In the US Junior Championships, freshman Tatianna Fisher qualified for the 200-meter dash semifinal with a time of 24.23 to take seventh. In the men’s 400-meter dash, freshman Andre Carter ran 48.51 to place 12th.