June 28, 2008

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Former Gamecock Chelsea Hammond won the Jamaican long jump national championship to lead three former Gamecock women at the Jamaican National Senior Championships Saturday at National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. The trials are being held June 27-29 as the Jamiaca Amateur Athletic Association prepares to select its representatives to compete at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Hammond, a four-time All-American at South Carolina from 2003-06, won the national title in the long jump with a jump of 21-8 ¼ (6.61m). Going against the wind, Hammond reached the winning mark on her fifth attempt to take the title. As a member of the Gamecocks, Hammond was twice named an indoors All-American in the pentathlon while also taking two outdoor All-America honors in the long jump.

Former Olympic gold medalist Aleen Bailey placed sixth in the women’s 100-meter dash finals Saturday night. Bailey, a nine-time All-American and thee-time NCAA champion, ran 11.22 in the finals after also finishing sixth in the semifinals at 11.38. She competed in the 100-meter dash and the 4×100-meter relay at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, taking home the gold with her teammates in the 4×100-meter relay.

Former Olympian Shevon Stoddart placed third in the 400-meter hurdles finals at 54.88 to cap the Gamecock effort. Stoddart, an 11-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion, also competed at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens where she represented Jamaica in the 400-meter hurdles.