May 29, 2002
BATON ROUGE, La. –
GAMECOCKS HEADED TO NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS The University of South Carolina are in Baton Rouge, Louisiana this weekend for the NCAA Track and Field Championships. The women, ranked No. 3 by Trackwire, are hot off of the SEC title they won two weeks ago in Starkville, Miss. The men, who finished seventh at the SEC meet, are ranked No. 7 this week by Trackwire.
Last year USC’s women were fourth and USC’s men finished 19th. Tennessee won the meet on the men’s side and Southern Cal will look to defend its title on the women’s side.
The meet, which begins with the heptathlon today, ends on Saturday, June 1.
USC will bring a full contingent of athletes, including its four nationally ranked relays. USC has six men qualified individually in five events and both of its relays. The women have eight qualified individually in 10 events and both of its relays. (see the list that follows).
Otukile Lekote will look to defend the 800m title he won in Oregon last June, while both teams look to tack on more NCAA titles. All told, the USC women have won four NCAA individual outdoor titles and one relay. The men have won four NCAA individual titles and two relays.
USC will look to score big points in the men’s and women’s sprints and hurdles. Tactia Bass should start the women’s bid off with a bang after winning the SEC title two weeks ago.
