Feb. 10, 2004

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina track and field program has made its mark on the collegiate and world track rankings with a number of athletes listed throughout each listing. Seven women and three men from USC are among the latest Trackwire college rankings and several more affiliated with the Gamecock program are listed among the IAAF’s world rankings.

Lashinda Demus is USC’s top-ranked female athlete.

Leading the way among the current ranked Carolina women is Lashinda Demus who is listed at No. 3 in the 400m. She leads teammates Shevon Stoddart and Stephanie Smith who are also ranked in the event, coming in at No. 8 and No. 10. A trio of USC women garnered No. 7 rankings in their event with Erica Whipple listed in the 200m, Ronnetta Alexander in the 60m hurdles and Chelsea Hammond in the pentathlon.

On the men’s side, Tony Allmond leads the way at No. 3 in the long jump. Also ranked among the top ten are Rodney Martin Jr. at No. 5 in the 200m and Fred Townsend at No. 8 in the heptathlon.

Both the Gamecock men’s and women’s 4x400m relay teams check in among the top ten as the women are ranked fourth and the men are ninth.

Several athletes with USC ties are among the world rankings, including three current athletes. Whipple holds the No. 38 ranking in the 200m and Demus is listed at No. 40 in the 400m hurdles. For the men, Otis Harris is ranked 33rd in the 400m.

Volunteer assistant coach Melissa Morrison is the world’s sixth-ranked 100m hurdler.

Carolina connections claim five top-ten rankings in the world led by volunteer assistant coach Allen Johnson, the top-ranked men’s 110m hurdle and USC alum Terrence Trammell, who is ranked fourth in the event. Former Gamecock Tonique Williams leads the ranked women at No. 5 in the 400m while volunteer assistant coach Melissa Morrison checks in at sixth in the 100m hurdles and Aleen Bailey, the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Champion in the 100m and 200m, is listed at No. 10 in the 100m.

USC athletes currently ranked in Trackwire’s “Dandy Dozen”:

Women – USC (14th); Lashinda Demus (3rd in 400m); Erica Whipple (7th in 200m); Ronnetta Alexander (7th in 60m hurdles); Chelsea Hammond (7th in pentathlon); Shevon Stoddart (8th in 400m); Stephanie Smith (10th in 400m); Kemesha Whitmire (12th in the long jump); 4×400 relay (4th).

Men – USC (18th); Tony Allmond (3rd in long jump); Rodney Martin, Jr., (5th in 200m); Fred Townsend (8th in heptathlon); 4×400 relay (9th).

Athletes with USC connections listed among the IAAF’s world rankings:

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 (10th in the 400m); Dawn Ellerbe (19th in the hammer); Lisa Misipeka (23rd in the hammer); Lisa Barber (31st in the 400m); Tiffany Ross (38th in the 400m H); Erica Whipple (38th in the 200m); Lashinda Demus (40th in the 400m H).

Men – Allen Johnson (1st in the 110m H); Terrence Trammell (4th in the 110m H); Brad Snyder (12th in the shot put); Otis Harris (33rd in the 400m); Kenneth Ferguson (36th in the 400m H).