May 22, 2006

Carolina Track Teams Send Record Number to NCAA East Track Regional Ranked No. 1 in Region in 7 Events as NCAA Championship Berth on the Line

Columbia, SC – South Carolina will send its largest contingent of athletes ever to the NCAA East Region Track and Field Championship May 26-27 at North Carolina A & T University in Greensboro, N.C. Looking for a top five finish to advance to the NCAA Championship in Sacramento, Calif., June 7-10, South Carolina is ranked No. 1 in the region in seven events. The women won the title last season with the men finishing fourth. The women are currently ranked No. 9 nationally.

The women have qualified 29 in 13 events including the 4x100m and 4x400m relays.
The men have qualified 25 in 13 events including the 4x400m relay.

Those ranked No. 1 in the region include Shalonda Solomon in the 100m and 200m. Solomon is also ranked No. 1 nationally in the 200m and No. 3 nationally in the 100m. Also ranked No. 1 in the region: Ronnetta Alexander in the 100m hurdles (13.10); Charleston’s Precious Akins in the discus (56.61m) and Jason Richardson in the 110m hurdles (13.51). The men’s 4x400m relay (3:06.71), including Richardson, Thomas Hilliard, Keith Hinnant and Jamil James, is No. 1 in the region as is the women’s SEC champion 4x100m relay (43.63) of Natasha Hastings, Amberly Nesbitt, Faraign Giles and Solomon.

The following are the men’s and women’s NCAA regional qualifiers.

USC’s Men – NCAA Regional Qualifiers (May 22, 2006)

USC’s Women – NCAA Regional Qualifiers (May 22, 2006)