March 19, 2005
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina track and field gave their home crowd an exciting two days of Gamecock action as the men’s and women’s team concluded day two of the Weems Baskin Relays Saturday afternoon in Columbia, S.C.
For the women’s team which ended the indoor season in fifth place in the NCAA, Tiffany Ross-Williams started the day with a strong performance in the 100m hurdles. Ross-Williams finished first with a time of 13.32, while former Gamecock and 2004 Olympian Lashinda Demus finished second with a time of 13.43. Following in third place, sophomore All-American Chiquita Martin ran 14.47.
Freshman All-American Amberly Nesbitt finished first in the 100m with a time of 11.62, while senior All-American Alexis Joyce finished second with a time of 11.87. St. John’s Kerrian Stewart ran 12.06 for third place.
The Gamecocks continued their success on the track, as junior LaShay Shelton won the 800m with a time of 2:09.52. Demus finished second and freshman Camille Clemmons-James came in third with a time of 2:19.47.
Gamecock distance runners dominated the 1500m run, finishing in first, second and third places. Coming in first was USC lead distance runner Jenny Lake with a time of 4:36.38. Freshmen Rebecca Chain and Amy Wike finished in second and third places with times of 4:47 and 4:57.84, respectively.
South Carolina also won the 1600 sprint medley with a time of 4:20.66, while also dominating the 4x100m relay and the 4x400m relay with first place finishes of 45.96 and 3:43.81, respectively. South Carolina’s 4x400m B team finished second with a time of 3:44.32, while South Carolina State ran 3:42.79 for third place.
In the field, South Carolina women claimed first place in both the long jump and the discus. Sophomore thrower Precious Akins threw for 150’10 in the discuss to win the event for the Gamecocks, while Keri Groover finished second with a throw of 141’8. College of Charleston’s Kosha Lance followed in third place with a throw of 127’0. In the long jump, junior All-American Kemesha Whitmire, who had a personal best and regional qualifying time in the triple jump on Friday, jumped 19’00 for a first place finish. Kellie Brown, of St. John’s, finished second with a leap of 17’7, while Waltina Harris, of Morris College, jumped 17’02 ¼ for third place. In the high jump, Monica Bozenski leaped 5’5 for second place.
For the men’s team that finished 19th in the NCAA Indoor Championship, the field events experienced great success. In the pole vault, Trey Bell vaulted 16’0 for a second place finish, while teammates Dan McKenzie, Johnathan Benton and Brad Kieber finished in third, fifth and sixth places, respectively. Former Gamecock Chris Steddum finished second in the event.
David Zaycek earned his first win in the men’s shot put with a throw of 49’3 1/2. Dave Scott, of Jackson State, finished second throwing for 46’9 1/2, while South Carolina State’s Willie Butler threw 45’04 ¼ for third.
On the track, junior William Emase saw the same success as Shelton, winning the event with a time of 1:50.49. Shawn Cunningham came in second with a time of 1:52.95, while Jackson State’s Brandon Lowery finished third with a time of 1:56.95.
The men’s relays saw much of the same success as the women’s. The men’s 4x100m relay won with a time of 41.32, while the 4x400m relay ended the day with a win running 3:08.71.
The Gamecocks will be back in action March 25-26 at the Florida Relays in Gainesville, Fla. Results will be available following the meet at www.uscsports.com.
