Jan. 27, 2007
LYNCHBURG, Va. — Sophomore Brittney James from the South Carolina track and field team took first place in the 60-meter hurdles Saturday in Lynchburg, Va., at the On Track Open. James ran an 8.68 in the prelims to finish first and then won the event with an 8.45 time in the finals, which was just two-hundredths of a second from an NCAA provisional qualifying mark.
Sophomore Kettiany Clarke, who finished second in the pentathlon Friday, was second in the 60mH prelims with an 8.70 clocking, and senior Reanna Townsend finished seventh and earned a berth into the finals. Townsend was fifth in the finals with a 9.16. Clarke did not run in the finals.
James also competed in the long jump and earned the silver medal with a leap of 19-4 3/4.
On the men’s side, freshman Aaron Searles improved his long jump from a week ago by four inches, as he jumped 21-4 3/4 to finish seventh. Sophomore Curt McGill ran the 60-meter hurdles in 8.71 in the fifth event of the heptathlon, but he did not compete in the final two events (pole vault and 1,000m run).
Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles (Heptathlon)
1. Curt McGill, 8.71
Men’s Long Jump (Finals)
7. Aaron Searles, 21-4 3/4
Men’s Heptathlon (Final)
2. Curt McGill, 3,531 – Did not compete in two events (pole vault and 1,000m run)
Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles (Prelims)
1. Brittney James, 8.68; 2. Kettiany Clarke, 8.70; 7. Reanna Townsend, 9.37
Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles (Finals)
1. Brittney James, 8.45; 5. Reanna Townsend, 9.16
Women’s Long Jump (Finals)
2. Brittney James, 19-4 3/4
