Feb. 22, 2006

University of South Carolina track standout Shalonda Solomon has been selected as the Southeastern Conference female Runner of the Week, the league office announced today. It is the third straight week that she has been recognized for her achievements on the track.

Solomon, a sophomore sprinter from Inglewood, Calif., showed her versatility by winning the 55-meter dash at the Gamecock Indoor Open on Saturday in an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 6.73 seconds. That converts to a 7.25-second 60-meter dash, which ranks as the fourth fastest time in the country this season. Solomon already owns the nation’s fastest 200-meter time this year with a 22.89-second clocking at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark. on Feb. 11.

It is the third consecutive week that Solomon has been honored by the Southeastern Conference. Teammates Amberly Nesbitt and Chelsea Hammond have also earned the league’s accolades this year.

The entire Gamecock track & field squad will be in Gainesville, Fla. this weekend for the SEC Indoor Championships. The meet begins on Friday and runs through Sunday at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on the University of Florida campus.