Track Teams Prepare For SEC Indoor Championships

Feb. 27, 2003

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina track team travels to Gainesville, Fla., this weekend for the SEC Indoor Championships, hosted by the University of Florida. Competition at the O’Connell Center begins on Friday, Feb. 28, and continues through Sunday, March 2.

Trackwire Online ranks the USC men’s No. 2 with 47 points, behind only Arkansas (55 points). SEC schools occupy the next three positions with LSU, Mississippi State and Florida rounding out the top five. Nine SEC teams are ranked in the Top 25 with six among the top 10. South Carolina holds six Dandy Dozen rankings, including three top spots-Otukile Lekote in the 800m, Corey Taylor in the 60m hurdles, and the 4x400m relay team.

“On the men’s side, Arkansas, LSU, Tennessee and Florida are the teams to beat,” said head coach Curtis Frye. “Then I put us in with a group that includes Georgia, Kentucky and Mississippi State. Among those teams, you could finish anywhere from fifth to eighth.”

South Carolina holds the No. 5 ranking in the women’s Trackwire poll with 38 points. LSU is ranked No. 1, followed by Stanford, North Carolina and Florida. Six SEC teams are ranked in the top 25, including four among the top 10. South Carolina holds nine positions in the Dandy Dozen rankings.

“The favorite on the women’s side has to be Florida,” said Frye. “Then there is a group chasing them that includes LSU, us, and Arkansas. Only two or three points will separate positions two through four and an additional 10 points will be needed to get to the top. Florida will have an advantage by running at their track. Depth will be a big key. We need to get as many top four finishers as we can.”

South Carolina’s women’s team placed fourth at last year’s SEC Indoor Championships. Demetria Washington, SEC Champion in the 400 meter dash and seventh-place finisher in the 200, was named the National Women’s Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year. The 4×400 relay team of Tiffany Ross, Shevon Stoddart, Tacita Bass and Lashinda Demus was crowned SEC Champions. Three women were runners-up including Aleen Bailey in 60m and Demus in the 60m hurdles and 400m. The USC women took third place in both 2001 and 2000 after a second-place finish in 1999.

The Gamecocks men’s team finished ninth at last year’s SEC Indoor Championships. Otukile Lekote was crowned SEC Champion in the 800 meter race. USC placed third in the 4×400 relay and Deandre’ Eiland finished third in the 60m hurdles. Carolina placed seventh in 2001 and eighth in 2000 after a second place finish in 1999 when Terrence Trammell won the Commissioner’s Trophy as the high point scorer.

“All year we have found a way to do what is necessary,” said Frye. “That has become a rallying cry of sorts, ‘Whatever is necessary.’ We will need some upsets this weekend at the SEC Championships to finish near the top, but that is something we are capable of doing. Our team is prepared. We have good senior leadership and we know what championship meets are all about.”