Feb. 5, 2004
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For a complete schedule, updated results and more information, visit the official site of the Verizon Millrose Games at: www.verizonmillrosegames.com.
South Carolina track and field athletes travel to New York for the 97th edition of the Verizon Millrose Games Friday night at Madison Square Garden. NBC will air what is regarded as America’s premier indoor track meet, on tape-delay Saturday, Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. ET.
Current Gamecocks scheduled to compete in the College Invitational field are Ronnetta Alexander in the 60m hurdles, Charles Ryan in the 60m hurdles and Erica Whipple in the 60m dash. USC’s men’s and women’s 4×400 relay teams will also run.
Former Carolina standouts Lisa Barber (60m), Demetria Washington (500 yards) and Otukile Lekote (800m) will compete in the Elite Invitational Fields along with current volunteer assistant coaches Melissa Morrison (60m hurdles), Allen Johnson (60m hurdles) and Dawn Ellerbe (weight throw).
RANK AND FILE: This week’s Trackwire team poll and “Dandy Dozen” individual rankings list the following Gamecocks:
Women – USC (14th); Lashinda Demus (3rd in 400m); Erica Whipple (7th in 200m); Ronnetta Alexander (7th in 60m hurdles); Chelsea Hammond (7th in pentathlon); Stephanie Smith (10th in 400m); Kemesha Whitmire (10th in the long jump); 4×400 relay (4th).
Men – USC (19th); Tony Allmond (3th in long jump); Rodney Martin, Jr., (6th in 200m); Fred Townsend (8th in heptathlon); Chris Steddum (11th in pole vault); 4×400 relay (9th).
NEW YORK, NEW YORK: South Carolina makes its first of two consecutive weekend appearances in New York City with the Verizon Millrose Games Friday at Madison Square Garden. USC athletes will also compete Feb. 13-14 in the Armory Collegiate Invitational at the Armory Track and Field Center. New York City is one of three locations in which Carolina will compete twice during the indoor season, with double doses of Lexington, Ky., and Gainesville, Fla., also on the schedule.
PRIZED PUPILS: USC head coa ch Curtis Frye is the founder of Speed Elite, formerly South Carolina Elite, a track and field club for serious athletes with the goal of making the Olympics. Those under Frye’s tuteledge include: Allen Johnson, Terrence Trammell, Melissa Morrison, Demetria Washington, Lisa and Miki Barber, and Aleen Bailey, all of whom train in Columbia, S.C.
USC IS HOME TO CHAMPIONS: Under the guidance of head coach Curtis Frye, South Carolina’s track and field program has solidified itself among the top programs in the nation.
In 2003, the Gamecock Track and Field program produced 41 All-Americans, 15 SEC Champions and three NCAA Champions. At the NCAA’s, the women’s team finished second indoors and third outdoors, becoming one of only three schools to have placed among the top-10 outdoors in each of the last eight seasons.
Over the past two seasons, USC has totaled 91 All-Americans, 33 SEC Champions, 21 NCAA Champions and won a Women’s Outdoor National Championship.
WHERE IN THE WORLD?: A bevy of athletes with USC ties are listed among the IAAF’s Jan. 26 world rankings. Among the current and former Gamecocks and volunteer assistant coaches listed are:
Women – Tonique Williams (5th in 400m); Melissa Morrison (6th in the 100m H); Aleen Bailey (10th in 100m and 23rd in the 200m); Demetria Washington (11th in the 400m); Dawn Ellerbe (19th in the hammer); Lisa Misipeka (23rd in the hammer); Tiffany Ross (38th in the 400m H); Erica Whipple (38th in the 200m); Lisa Barber (39th in the 400m); Lashinda Demus (40th in the 400m H).
Men – Allen Johnson (1st in the 110m H); Terrence Trammell (4th in the 110m H); Brad Snyder (11th in the shot put); Otis Harris (33rd in the 400m); Kenneth Ferguson (36th in the 400m H).
FOR THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE: USC head coach Curtis Frye was named to Team USA’s Olympic Track and Field coaching staff for the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece. He will serve as a women’s assistant coach for sprints and hurdles. Frye has coached 17 Olympians, including six medalists, during his career. His international experience for Team USA includes serving as men’s head coach at the 2001 Goodwill Games and as an assistant coach at the 1999 World Championships.
USC AND OLYMPIC ATHLETES: One dozen athletes with USC ties have competed in track and field for their countries at the two most recent Olympic Games. Those who competed as alumni or while enrolled at USC include: Miki Barber (4×400 relay for USA in 2000), Dawn Ellerbe (Hammer for USA in 2000), Michelle Fournier (Hammer for Canada in 2000), Charmaine Howell (800m for Jamaica in 2000), Lisa Misipeka (Hammer and Shot Put for American Samoa in 1996 and 2000), Brad Snyder (Shot Put for Canada in 1996 and 2000), Terrence Trammell (110m Hurdles for USA in 2000), Marvin Watts (800m for Jamaica in 1996) and Tonique Williams (400m for Bahamas in 2000). Three athletes competed as former or current USC volunteer assistant coaches: Monique Hennagan (4×400 relay and 400m for USA in 2000), Allen Johnson (110m Hurdles for USA in 2000) and Melissa Morrison (100m Hurdles for USA in 2000).
ON THEIR WAY: Through four meets in 2004, eight Gamecocks have posted NCAA qualifying marks, including two automatic berths Leading the way is Rodney Martin, Jr., who ran an NCAA automatic time of 21.07 to win the 200m on Jan. 25 at the SEC Invitational and Lashinda Demus who posted an automatic time of 52.94 on Feb. 1 at the Gator Invitational.
Five USC women own NCAA provisional qualifying marks including: Stephanie Smith (53.60 in the 400m on 1/17); Shevon Stoddart (53.93 in the 400m on 1/17); Ronnetta Alexander (7.75 in the 55m H on 1/25); Erica Whipple (7.44 in the 200m on 1/17 and 23.82 in the 200m on 2/1); India Odum (52’1″ in the shot put on 1/25). Jonathan Fortenberry (47.13 in the 400m on 1/17) owns a provisional mark on the men’s side.
In addition, the Carolina women’s 4×400 relay recorded a provisional time of 3:36.46 on 1/16.
