April 1, 2006
The South Carolina men’s and women’s track and field teams produced 11 new regional qualifying marks at the Dr Pepper Invitational, hosted by the University of Florida on Saturday. All told, USC has logged 31 regional qualifying marks through the first three weeks of the outdoor season.
Leading the way once again was sprint sensation Shalonda Solomon. The NCAA Indoor champion at 200 meters who already owns the nation’s fastest 200-meter time during the outdoor season, competed in the 100-meter dash Saturday. The Inglewood, Calif. product turned in the nation’s fastest time, an 11.21 second clocking, to earn a spot at the regional meet in that event.
Saturday also saw the return of 400-meter All-American Stephanie Smith. Smith, who was bothered by a hamstring injury for much of the indoor season, finished third in her first 400-meter race of the outdoor season, clocking a 54.08 to earn a spot in the regional meet. Smith will be joined at the regional meet in the 400 metes by Faraign Giles, who ran a 54.20 to place fourth on Saturday.
NCAA indoor 800-meter qualifier LaShay Shelton finished second in the two-lap race on Saturday, covering the distance in a time of 2:09.44, going under the regional standard for the first time this season.
A pair of USC runners earned spots in the regional meet in the 100-meter hurdles. Ronetta Alexander, who finished fourth in 13.59 seconds, and Chiquita Martin, who finished eighth in 13.91 seconds, will join Kettiany Clarke and Brittney James, who previously qualified for the regional meet in the event.
Also logging regional marks for the first time this season were Precious Akins in the shot put (4th-14.47m), Keri Groover in the discus (6th-47.80m), Kemesha Whitmire in the triple jump (9th-12.44m), and the women’s 4×100 meter relay team (4th-45.67). The women’s 4×400 meter relay team improved its regional time, running 3:35.27 to finish second.
On the men’s side, senior jumper Greig Cryer earned a spot in the regional meet in the triple jump after winning the event with a leap of 15.45 meters (50-8.25). He also moved up the national list in the long jump mark with a winning leap of 7.63 meters (25-0.50).
Senior thrower Brook Antonio had a big day, winning the discus throw with a season-best mark of 55.88 meters (183-4), over three meters further than his previous best this season of 52.21m. He also placed fourth in the hammer throw with a toss of 58.73m (192-8). He previously logged qualifying marks in both events.
Thomas Hilliard improved his regional qualifying mark in the 400-meter hurdles. He won Saturday’s race in 52.17 seconds, better than his previous best of 52.46 seconds.
Keith Hinnant, who entered the weekend with the nation’s fastest 400-meter time of 46.78 seconds, finished second on Saturday in a time of 46.94 seconds. Jason Richardson ran his fastest time in nearly a year in the 110-meter hurdles, breaking the tape in 13.52 seconds to finish second, but the race was wind-aided.
The Gamecocks will compete next Wednesday at the Weems Baskin Track & Field Complex on the USC campus as part of the State of South Carolina Track Meet. They will travel to Athens for the Georgia Invitational next Saturday.
USC RESULTS:
WOMEN:
100 meters: 1. Shalonda Solomon 11.21; 29. Dishari’ck Howze 12.36; 36. Monica King 12.60.
200 meters: 42. Dishari’ck Howze 26.22; 48. Monica King 26.63.
400 meters: 3. Stephanie Smith 54.08; 4. Faraign Giles 54.20; 18. Nikeshia Brown 56.68; 23. Chelsea Kaczmarek 58.99.
800 meters: 2. LaShay Shelton 2:09.44; 33. Alyse Shayer 2:22.68.
1500 meters: 16. Kelsey Bristol 4:54.31.
100 meter Hurdles: 4. Ronetta Alexander 13.59; 5. Kettiany Clarke 13.67; 8. Chiquita Martin 13.91; 9. Trier Young 13.93; 16. Brittney James 14.28; 22. Reanna Townsend 14.55.
400 meter Hurdles: 4. Chiquita Martin 60.51; 6. Trier Young 61.20; 10. Keittany Clarke 62.53.
4×100 meter Relay: 4. USC (Dishari’ck Howze, Kemesha Whitmire, Monica King, Faraign Giles) 45.67.
4×400 meter Relay: 2. USC “A” (Chiquita Martin, LaShay Shelton, Faraign Giles, Nikeshia Brown) 3:35.27; 8. USC “B” (Dishari’ck Howze, Cheryl Terrio, Trier Young, Chelsea Kaczmarek) 3:44.34.
High Jump: T6. Monica Bozenski 1.70m (5-7.00).
Pole Vault: 1. Cheryl Terrio 3.80m (12-5.50); T5. Vica Shobe 3.60m (11-9.75); 7. Liza Todd 3.40m (11-1.75); 11. Emily Pease 3.20m (10-6.00).
Long Jump: 5. Brittney James 5.92m (19-5.25); 18. Kettiany Clarke 5.17m (16-11.50); 22. Chelsea Kaczmarek 5.05m (16-7.00); -. Kemesha Whitmire Foul.
Triple Jump: 9. Kemesha Whitmire 12.44m (40-9.75).
Shot Put: 4. Precious Akins 14.47m (47-5.75); 17. Kettiany Clarke 9.22m (30-3.00).
Discus: 4. Precious Akins 50.90m (167-00); 6. Keri Groover 47.80m (156-10).
Hammer Throw: 7. Precious Akins 51.60m (169-3); 13. Keri Groover 43.19m (141-8).
Javelin: 16. Reanna Townsend 28.50m (93-6); 17. Chelsea Kaczmarek 28.45m (93-4).
MEN:
100 meters: 20 Nick Lytle 10.81.
200 meters: 14. Jamil James 22.00; 15. Nick Lytle 22.01.
400 meters: 2. Keith Hinnant 46.94.
800 meters: 13. Johnny Baez 1:56.60; 19. Shawn Cunningham 2:03.78.
1500 meters: 2. Johnny Baez 3:55.54.
110-meter Hurdles: 2. Jason Richardson 13.52; 10. Thomas Hilliard 14.43; 18. Greg Royster 15.74; 19. Curt McGill 15.78.
400-meter Hurdles: 1. Thomas Hilliard 52.17; -. Jussi Heikkila DNF.
4×100 meter Relay: 3. USC (Jamil James, Jason Richardson, Greig Cryer, Nick Lytle) 40.81.
4×400 meter Relay: 2. USC (Jamil James, Jason Richardson, Thomas Hilliard, Keith Hinnant) 3:10.38.
High Jump: -. Curt McGill NH.
Pole Vault: 3. Trey Bell 4.90m (16-00.75); -. Greg Royster NH.
Long Jump: 1. Greig Cryer 7.63m (25-00.50).
Triple Jump: 1. Greig Cryer 15.45m (50-8.25).
Shot Put: 5. Jim Mitchell 16.50m (54-1.75); 7. David Zaycek 15.62m (51-3.00); 10. Jason Cook 14.65m (48-00.75); 15. Curt McGill 12.96m (42-6.25); 18. Greg Royster 11.32m (37-1.75).
Discus: 1. Brook Antonio 55.88m (183-4); 7. Joe Schroeder 50.73 (166-5); 8. David Zaycek 49.39m (162-0); 9. Jason Cook 49.00 (160-9); 12. Tyler Trout 44.52m (146-1); 13. Jim Mitchell 43.65 (143-2).
Hammer Throw: 4. Brook Antonio 58.73m (192-8); 12. Tyler Trout 49.46m (162-3); 15. David Zaycek 45-10 (147-11); 16. Jason Cook 44.78m (146-11); 19. Anthony Faulkner 41.90m (137-6).
