Feb. 23, 2002

In the first event of the pentathlon at the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships, South Carolina’s Tacita Bass fell over the last hurdle but got up to finish with the slowest time of the day in the 60m hurdles at 10. But Bass wasn’t done yet as she scrapped and clawed her way up to sixth place prior to the 800m. Bass then kicked off a 2:20.00 to win the 800m and finish fourth overall in the pentathlon. Her point total of 3,723 sets USC’s school record.

USC’s women are in third place with 5 points and the men are in fifth place after the first day of competition.

The meet kicks off tomorrow with the 20lb.weight at 1 pm. Anderson’s Mamee Groves leads the Gamecocks with a personal best toss of 64′ 1 ? – good enough for the fifth seed. Preliminary events on the track will follow with finals in the men’s pole vault, weight, long jump and 3000m. USC’s Chris Steddum currently leads the SEC with a mark of 17’9 going into the pole vault competition.

The Gamecocks Chalsea Hammond, a freshman, was 11th with 3,365 points.

On the men’s side, USC went 8-12-15-16-20 with USC sophomore Fred Townsend finishing the night with 3729 points to finish eighth.

Pentathlon Totals Tacita Bass – 3,723 total points – fourth place 60m hurdles – 10.93 (548) high jump – 5′ 5 ? (818) shot put – 40′ 7 ? (687) – personal best long jump – 19′ 8 (846) 800m – 2:20 (824)

Chalsea Hammond – 3365 total points – 11th place 60m hurdles – 9.45 (818) high jump – 5′ 3 /14 (747) shot put – 33′ 4 ? (541) long jump – 18′ 1 (703) 800m – 2:41.44 (556)

Men’s Totals Fred Townsend – 3729 total points – 8th place 60m hurdles – 8.12 (952) long jump – 22′ 5 (774) shot put – 32′ 11 (487) high jump – 6′ 5 (767) 1000m – 2:51.63 (749)

Sean Krawiecki – 3620 total points – 12th place 60m hurdles – 8.90 (768) long jump – 22′ 2 ? (760) shot put – 40′ 2 ? (622) high jump – 6′ 2 ? (714) 1000m – 3:00.47 (660)

Greg Royster – 3400 total points – 15th place 60m hurdles – 9.03 (739) long jump – 21′ 6 ? (713) shot put – 34′ 6 ? (517) high jump – 6′ 4 (740) 1000m – 2:57.31 (691)

Garry Martin – 3285 points – 16th place 60m hurdles – 9.66 (607) long jump – 19′ 9 (591) shot put – 35′ 10 2/4 (542) high jump – 6′ ? (661) 1000m – 2:39.02 (884)

Ben Yocum – 2888 points – 20th place 60m hurdles – 10.09 (524) long jump – 18′ 3 ? (496) shot put – 34′ 3 ? (513) high jump – 5′ 6 ? (536) 1000m – 2:44.97 (819)