May 12, 2005

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina track and field athletes Dan McKenzie and Kemesha Whitmire claimed both the men’s and women’s Southeastern Conference Field Athlete of the Week honors after their personal best performances at the Orange and Purple Classic last Saturday at Clemson.

McKenzie, a sophomore pole vaulter, represented the men’s team with a regional qualifying mark of 16’6 ¾ for a first place finish in the event. McKenzie, who has shown great improvements throughout the indoor and outdoor seasons, was a SEC indoor scorer finishing third in the event and looks to have a repeat performance at this weekend’s outdoor championship.

Whitmire, a junior All-American jumper, won both the long and triple jumps at Clemson with a personal best and regional qualifying mark of 42’11 in the triple. Whitmire, who also scored at SEC indoors early this year, leaped a regional qualifying mark of 20’9, her second best mark of her career, in the long jump for a second title at Clemson.

Both athletes will be competing with the Gamecock men’s and women’s track and field teams at the SEC Outdoor Championship held May 12-15 at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn.