Jan. 17, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. – South Carolina’s Jason Richardson became the first Gamecock to punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships after running the first automatic time in the nation in the 60-meter hurdles Saturday at 7.58. In addition to Richardson, six other Gamecocks hit provisional times over the weekend as South Carolina finished competition at the season opening Kentucky Invitational at the E.J. Nutter Field House.
A six-time All-American, Richardson punched his ticket to the NCAA Indoor Championships that will be held in College Station, Texas from March 13-14. The 7.58 ran in the preliminary round was just five-hundredths away from his personal best of 7.53 (set at the NCAA Indoor Championships last season in Fayetteville, Ark.) before ending the day with a 7.65 to win in the final. Johnny Dutch placed seventh in the event at 7.93, just missing a provisional mark, while freshman Booker Nunley showed a quick adaption to high hurdles with an 8.08 to place 10th in his first collegiate event.
“Jason’s run was phenomenal,” South Carolina head coach Curtis Frye said. “Starting out a few hundredths of a second of the collegiate record was an extraordinary effort. Jason is the top returner. He’s an NCAA outdoor champion, and he lived up to expectations. Even a 7.70 would have been good, so we’re pleased to see him open that quick.”
In her collegiate debut, freshman Nadonia Rodrigues, who ran the fourth fastest high school time in U.S. history last year, won the 400m dash at 53.52 as she and Brandi Cross went 1-2 in the event with provisional times. Cross, a 2008 NCAA finalist and All-American, ran a 54.12 to take second. On the men’s side, transfer Obakeng Ngwigwa placed 15th at 48.46 to lead the Gamecocks.
Sophomore Lakya Brookins claimed second in the 60m dash at 7.33, hitting her first provisional time of the year but narrowly missing her personal best of 7.32. Gabrielle Glenn also qualified for the 60m final by running a 7.54 to place 11th in the prelims while freshmen Breehana Jacobs (7.65) and Kelsey McCorckle (7.78) ran in their first collegiate events.
“Brandi handled that race quite well and came back later to lead our mile relay,” Frye said. “She’s rounding back into shape and performed right at expectations. Nadonia is right at what we were looking at too. Kya Brookins opening up where she left off in the 60m was good to get a provisional.”
In the men’s 60m dash, Johnathan Hancock placed sixth at 6.76 and Lamar Markett came in eighth at 6.80 as both nearly hit their personal bests. Antonio Sales lowered his personal best by over one-tenth as he ran a 6.82 to finish 11th in the final. Sales later took fifth in the 200m dash at 21.36 while Jason Richardson came in 10th at 21.64.
“We had a lot of good races,” Frye said. “Johnny Dutch made finals as did (Booker) Nunley. I’m happy for our men. Johnathan Hancock started out where he ended up last year at the end of the year. Marty running a 6.80 two times is good for him and puts him a little away from getting a provisional. Antonio Sales never has run under 6.90 and for him to run a 6.82 in his first meet is phenomenal.”
In her first time competing since the 2007 season, redshirt senior Ronetta Alexander placed sixth in the 60-meter hurdles final at a provisional time of 8.39. Trier Young and junior transfer Janica Austin also qualified for the final as Young ran an 8.73 in the prelims and Austin ran an 8.80 in the preliminary round.
“What’s really exciting for us was Ronetta Alexander running 8.39 and coming back after an Achilles surgery as well as being a full-time pharmacy student,” Frye said. “It’s extraordinary to have her come through like that, and it looks like she’s on her way back to the NCAA level.”
The women’s 4x400m relay team won the event at 3:40.56, barely missing the provisional qualifying time of 3:40.00. The men’s team ran a provisional time of 3:09.34 to take second. Brandi Cross, Breehana Jacobs, Kelsey McCorkle and Nadonia Rodrigues ran for the women; Quentin Moore, Obakeng Ngwigwa, Johnny Dutch and Aaron Anderson ran for the men.
“The women had to sit a few on the mile relay in Porche Byrd and Gabby Glenn, so they should be back ready to go next week,” Frye said. “The me’s mile relay was great and got caught on the last stretch by Florida, but we did get the provisional mark in the mile relay.”
Freshman Marvin Reitze paced Carolina in the pole vault, clearing 16-6 ¾ (5.05m) on his first attempt to claim second in his collegiate debut. The clearance is the eighth best in Carolina history as the freshman from Germany begins his Carolina career. Matt Shuler came in 12th at 15-7 (4.75m).
Jason Cook claimed sixth in the men’s shot put at 56-9 ½ (17.31m) while Aimee Kodat led the women at 38-2 ¾ (11.65m) to place 22nd.
The men’s and women’s discus throws both completed action late Friday night as Aimee Kodat took fourth on the women’s side with a throw of 141-10 (43.23m). Jeff Merkt led the men with a toss of 156-01 (47.58) for eighth place while David Zaycek and Michael Zajac finished behind at ninth and tenth, respectively.
“For Michael Zajac to come out and hit a provisional qualifying mark and personal best in the hammer throw (Friday) are things we’re looking for. Marvin Reitze opened the season with a short approach in the pole vault and to get second was great.”
Junior transfer Danielle Barnes placed sixth in the 3,000-meter run at 9:51.06. In the men’s long jump, Aaron Searles led the Gamecock effort at 21-7 ¼ (6.58m).
South Carolina returns to action next Saturday when both teams compete at the Tom Jones Memorial Classic in Gainesville, Fla.
Women’s Discus Throw
4. Aimee Kodat – 141-10 (43.23m)
Men’s Discus Throw
8. Jeff Merkt – 156-01 (47.58m)
9. David Zaycek – 151-07 (46.21m)
10. Michael Zajac – 150-10 (45.98m)
Women’s 60mH (Prelims)
8. Ronetta Alexander – 8.53q
12. Trier Young – 8.73q
15. Janica Austin – 8.80q
Women’s 60mH (Finals)
6. Ronetta Alexander – 8.39 PRO
16. Janica Austin – 8.87
Men’s 60mH (Prelims)
1. Jason Richardson – 7.58q AUTO
9. Johnny Dutch – 7.96q
15. Booker Nunley – 8.16q
21. Curt McGill – 8.55
25. Scott Pierce – 8.93
Men’s 60mH (Finals)
1. Jason Richardson – 7.65 AUTO
7. Johnny Dutch – 7.93
10. Booker Nunley – 8.08
Women’s 60m Dash (Prelims)
3. Lakya Brookins – 7.46q
11. Gabrielle Glenn – 7.54q
19. Breehana Jacobs – 7.65
30. Kelsey McCorckle – 7.78
Women’s 60m Dash (Finals)
2. Lakya Brookins – 7.33 PRO
Men’s 60m Dash (Prelims)
4. Lamar Markett – 6.80q
6. Johnathan Hancock – 6.81q
13. Antonio Sales – 6.89q
20. Bryce Sherman – 6.95
28. Eddie Stoudemire – 7.04
Men’s 60m Dash (Finals)
6. Johnathan Hancock – 6.76
8. Lamar Markett – 6.80
11. Antonio Sales – 6.82
Women’s 400m Dash
1. Nadonia Rodrigues – 53.52 PRO
2. Brandi Cross – 54.12 PRO
Men’s 400m Dash
15. Obakeng Ngwigwa – 48.46
18. Quentin Moore – 48.66
26. Aaron Anderson – 48.99
44. Michael Varner – 50.76
Women’s 200m Dash
16. Breehana Jacobs – 25.05
Men’s 200m Dash
5. Antonio Sales – 21.36
10. Jason Richardson – 21.64
Women’s 3000 Meter Run
8. Danielle Barnes – 9:51.06
22. Beatrice Biwott – 10:29.85
Women’s 4x400m Relay
1. Cross, Jacobs, McCorkle, Rodrigues – 3:40.56
14. South Carolina `B’ – 3:57.95
Men’s 4x400m Relay
2. Moore, Ngwigwa, Dutch, Anderson – 3:09.34 PRO
13. South Carolina `B’ – 3:19.99
Men’s Pole Vault
2. Marvin Reitze – 16-6.75 (5.05m)
12. Matt Shuler – 15-07 (4.75m)
15. Kevin Brinkley – 15-01 (4.60m)
16. Jerry Thompson – 14-07.25 (4.45m)
Women’s High Jump
11. Kettiany Clarke – 5-5.25 (1.66m)
14. Kayla Blake – 5-3.25 (1.61m)
21. Corey Bowen – 5-1.25 (1.56m)
Women’s Long Jump
25. Radiance Basden – 16-10 (5.13m)
Men’s Long Jump
12. Aaron Searles – 21-7.25 (6.58m)
14. Curt McGill – 21-1.25 (6.43m)
15. Scott Pierce – 20-10.75 (6.37m)
Women’s Shot Put
22. Aimee Kodat – 38-2.75 (11.65m)
26. Shantelle Patterson – 35-7.75 (10.86m)
28. Kettiany Clarke – 34-11.75 (10.66m)
Men’s Shot Put
6. Jason Cook – 56-9.50 (17.31m)
19. David Zaycek – 50-10 (15.49m)
30. Eddie Stoudemire – 37-5 (11.40m)
