Jan. 29, 2002

One week after falling to second place in the Trackwire.com poll, the South Carolina women’s Track and Field team is back on top as the latest poll was released. Carolina is atop a poll that features six Southeastern Conference teams, with two, South Carolina and Florida, leading the way. South Carolina has 52 votes while second place Florida has 51.

Meanwhile, the South Carolina men’s Track and Field team is ranked 14th in the same poll, one that features eight Southeastern Conference teams, with five ranked in the top five spots.

The Lady Gamecocks had six people noted in Trackwire’s “Dandy Dozen,” a ranking of the top 12 athletes in each NCAA Track and Field event. Junior Aleen Bailey was mentioned in the Dandy Dozen in the 60 meter and 200 meter sprints. Senior Me’Lisa Barber was ranked in the 60m and 200m while her twin sister, Miki Barber, was ranked in the 200m and 400m sprints. Senior Demetria Washington was ranked in the “Dandy Dozen” in the 200m and 400m sprints. Senior Tacita Bass was ranked in the 400m sprints while Freshman Erica Whipple was ranked in the Dandy Dozen for the 60m and 200m sprints. South Carolina’s women’s 4×4 team was also ranked in the Dandy Dozen.

The Lady Gamecocks weren’t the only Carolinians to be mentioned in the Dandy Dozen as the men’s track and field team had three athletes ranked. Sophomore Chris Steddum, who recently broke a school record at the Virginia Tech Invitational, was ranked in the Pole Vault. Sophomore Otis Harris was also ranked in the 400m sprint. 800m sprinter Otukile Lekote was also ranked in the Dandy Dozen. South Carolina’s men’s 4×4 team was also ranked.

Both the men’s and women’s track and field teams compete this weekend at the USC Open Indoor Invitational at the Indoor Center in Columbia, SC. Field events begin Friday night and track events start Saturday morning.