March 11, 2005

Fayetteville, Ark. – South Carolina men’s and women’s track and field will begin competition at the 2005 NCAA Indoor Championship this evening in Fayetteville, Ark.

Combined the two teams had 13 athletes selected to compete in seven events at the championship held at the University of Arkansas. Competing first for the Gamecocks is freshman Jason Richardson, the 2004 National Gatorade Athlete of the Year. Richardson, ranked No. 7 on the 60m hurdles selection list with a season best of 7.75, will compete in the event preliminary at 5:20 p.m.

Also competing in this evening’s events are freshman Natasha Hastings, junior All-American Tiffany Ross, senior All-American and 2004 Olympian Shevon Stoddart and sophomore All-American Stephanie Smith. The foursome, ranked third, fifth, seventh and ninth, respectively, are scheduled to compete in the 400m preliminary at 5:40 p.m.

The women’s 60m dash preliminary will kick-off at 6:15 p.m. with Amberly Nesbitt, All-American Khalilah Carpenter, All-American Alexis Joyce and Shalonda Solomon. Seniors Carpenter and Joyce will make a run for the title at their last NCAA Indoor Championship, while freshmen Nesbitt and Solomon,National Gatorade Athlete of the Year, will make their first attempt at earning All-American status.

The women’s 200m preliminary, also scheduled for this evening at 7:20p.m., will consist of Gamecocks All-American Erica Whipple, Carpenter, Solomon and Stoddart. Whipple, an 8-time All-American, is ranked No. 5 on the selection list and plans to add to her All-American honors this weekend at her last indoor championship.

The final for the men’s 60m hurdles will take place at 8:20 p.m., while the women’s 200m final will follow at 8:50 p.m. The finals for the 60m and 400m are scheduled for Satuday evening.

Recap and results will be available following today’s competition at www.uscsports.com and www.ncaasports.com