May 10, 2002

Starkville, MS – With all three Gamecock decathletes putting up personal best point totals tonight, sophomore Fred Townsend led the trio with a personal best and NCAA provisional score of 7157 points. Townsend finished the meet in third place, garnering All-SEC honors.

Teammates Greg Royster and Ben Yocum were ninth and 11th, respectively. Royster scored a personal best 6519 points, while Yocum tallied a personal best 5826 points.

“Fred did a great job the past two days,” said USC multi-event coach Delethea Quarles. “The three guys worked together like the women in the heptathlon and really helped each other through these two grueling days.”

The following are their two day totals:

Fred Townsend: 7157 points – third place
NCAA provisional mark
110m hurdles: 14.40
discus throw: 109′ 3
pole vault: 12′ 11 3/4
javelin: 173′ 9
1500m: 4:38.84

Greg Royster – 6519 points – ninth place
110m hurdles: 16.48
discus: 92′ 10
pole vault: 15′ 7 1/4
javelin: 160′ 9
1500m: 4:44.70

Ben Yocum – 5826 points – 11th place
110m hurdles: 18.15
discus: 120′ 4
pole vault: 12′ 11 3/4
javelin: 137′ 2
1500m: 4:38.10