June 8, 2006

Footprints From Nationals:

Attention track fans! Or just Gamecock fans! Here’s the deal, I, Jason Richardson of Cedar Hill, Texas and now Gamecock Nation, am doing a practicum with USC’s Sport Information Department and I’ve been given the amazing opportunity of providing daily recaps from interworkings of my brain, along with detailed interviews with my teammates and their quest towards track greatness. I’m a rising junior and will be participating in the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships along with a slew of nationally ranked team members. Lace up your spikes and stretch, because the races are about to begin…

After a strong performance in the discus preliminary, Precious Akins is expected to score major points for the Gamecocks. As a key figure of the resurging throws program of early Carolina, Precious Akins is expected to inspire a new breed of Gamecock athlete.

Richardson (USC): USC first broke into the national ranks as a throws program. Although USC has taken a sprint direction under Coach Frye, how do you take the leadership roll for USC’s throwers?

Precious: I’m just trying to carry on the tradition of the throwers making a huge contribution to the team and its winning spirit. Now, we can hope that the program will be known for both sprints and throws

USC: You compete in both the shot and discus during the year. Which is your favorite and why?

Precious: Discus is my favorite because it’s my better event and the first one that I picked up. It also doesn’t get my neck dirty. It’s obvious that discus is my favorite because I qualified for nationals in it.

USC: Your concern for getting your neck dirty is interesting; do you feel there is a lot of room for femininity in the throwing events?

Precious: There is and we need a lot more of it (said with amusing passion). You don’t have to be on the masculine side to be a thrower. We’re girls too, just a lil’ bit bigger than others (said with a smile). Dicus is a graceful event and in that grace can come femininity.

USC: You’re currently ranked 3rd going into the semi-finals of this year’s championship. What do you make of your preliminary performance and what do you expect of the finals?

Precious: I had a great preliminary. It’s anybodies game and I’m going to win it. That’s the goal. For me, it’s not about isolated and random far throwing. I’m all about consistency, and it has taken me to the finals and hopefully to the win. If I throw what I got to get here, I’ll be fine.

USC: As far as the program’s mix of sprinters and throwers, do you feel any separation or is it a unified atmosphere?

Precious: I feel it’s unified, and I support everybody. I cheer for them and they cheer for me. I don’t feel separated by any means.

USC: USC’s women’s team is in the hunt for a national championship. In what way will your performances impact the team’s championship run?

Precious: I know that if I score I’ll help the team. Every point counts, every half a point counts, every little bit counts.

USC: What would like to say to current Gamecock fans?

Precious: To continue their support of track and field. We are doing great things on and off the track and we are very thankful for the support.

Thanks Precious!