March 19, 2004
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina’s track and field teams opened the outdoor portion of their 2004 schedule on Friday with day one of the two-day Weems Baskin Relays, one of two home meets for the Gamecocks this season. Two Carolina athletes posted NCAA automatic qualifying marks as USC totaled eight victories on the day, including sweeps of the men’s and women’s 4x1200m and 4x300m relays.
Tony Antonio and Greig Cryer each posted NCAA automatic qualifying marks in their first outdoor competition of the year. Antonio finished second in the hammer throw with a distance of 57.78m, trailing only former Gamecock Bert Sorin, while Cryer finished first in the triple jump with a distance of 15.08m/49’5.75″.
Khalilah Carpenter, Tawana Watkins, Shevon Stoddart and Lashinda Demus was the victorious team in the women’s 4x300m while Derron Flodd, Jason Jackamonis, Fred Townsend and Adrian Durant won the event for the men. USC’s quartet of Steve Mance, Shawn Cunningham, Ricky Johnson and Sean Leyh won the men’s 4x1200m relay while the women’s team of Jenny Lake, Boikhutso Ramomene, Tristan Rackow and Mary Claire Utsey completed the event sweep.
Carolina women earned a pair of field event wins as freshman Precious Akins earned a victory in the hammer throw with a mark of 41.53m and Rachel Farabee won the pole vault with a height of 3.50m/11’5.75″. Fred Townsend took first in the men’s javelin with a distance of 57.26m/187’10”, finishing ahead of teammate Scott Alsup’s mark of 56.65m/185’10”.
“It was a good day for our kids,” said head coach Curtis Frye. “They had a lot of fun and it was a good start to the outdoor season.”
The Weems Baskin Relays conclude Saturday in Columbia. Both field and running events are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and continue throughout the afternoon. For a complete schedule and results from the meet, visit www.uscsports.com.
Other USC Highlights
The USC women’s 800 sprint medley team of Ronnetta Alexander, Alexis Joyce Stephanie Smith and Chiquita Martin ran a time of 1:41.94 and finished second to the Gamecock Alumni team of Melissa Morrison, Tongula Givens, Mechelle Lewis and Aleen Bailey who posted a winning time of 1:41.07 … Tyler Trout and Jacob Minskey finished second and third in the men’s hammer throw with distances of 46.97m and 45.09m … Marisa Garcia-Quintana placed second in the women’s pole vault … Katie Desin finished second in the women’s javelin with a throw of 35.51m … Rhashida Abdul-Malik placed second in the women’s triple jump with a distance of 11.99m/39’4″ but was the top collegiate finisher.
