April 15, 2005

Sante Fe, N.M. – South Carolina equestrian team put on an impressive performance and ended the day in second place at the Varsity Equestrian Championship in Sante Fe, N.M. Oklahoma State holds the top spot, while Texas A&M finished the day in third place. The Gamecocks are competing in the two-day national championship hosted this weekend by New Mexico State at Sante Fe Horse Park.

Highlighting the day’s competition, the Gamecocks finished the Hunt Seat competition with 19 points, while Oklahoma State followed in second place with 14 points. Leading the Gamecocks with impressive performances in Hunt Seat were Kristen Terebesi and Tara Brothers, who won equitation over fences and equitation on the flat, respectively. Kelley Campbell also finished runner-up in the second section of equitation on the flat.

USC riders finished the day in eighth place in Western, totaling five points, while Oklahoma State ended the competition with 19 points. Western rider Rachel Sternoff led the Gamecocks with a fifth place finish in the first section of reining and sixth place in section one of horsemanship.

“We had a very good day. We’re very pleased with the way they’ve ridden today,” said USC Head Coach Boo Duncan. “We came into this competition with the idea that we weren’t going to defeat ourselves. We have some good athletes with some nice horses that were difficult to ride. I think tomorrow will be more interesting to see how we do. We hope they continue to ride well.”

The Gamecocks will be back in action to contend for the national title on Saturday in Sante Fe, N.W.