Jan. 23, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina sprinter Lakya Brookins was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week after leading the Gamecocks to an impressive showing at the UNC Classic, the league office announced.

Brookins (Seneca, S.C.) hit an NCAA provisional qualifying time with a win in her first collegiate meet, finishing the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.37 at the UNC Classic. Her time ties for the tenth best in South Carolina indoor history, becoming the first runner in two years to crack the top 10 list, and currently ranks as the seventh best time in the nation. The last Carolina sprinters to break into the top 10 were current professionals Amberly Nesbitt and Shalonda Solomon in 2006. Brookins also finished second in the 200m with a time of 25.20, just 0.12 seconds shy from winning the event.

The South Carolina track and field teams return to action this weekend at the Tom Jones Memorial Classic in Gainesville, Fla. The sixth-ranked women’s team will look to continue improving after posting six wins at last week’s event.