Jan. 28, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. – After strong starts to the 2009 indoor season, the South Carolina men’s and women’s track and field programs both jumped in the latest USTFCCCA rankings released by the organization Wednesday afternoon. Both teams were preseason No. 16 teams, but the women have jumped four spots to No. 12 and the men jumped two spots to No. 14 in the first poll of the regular season.

The men have been led by senior Jason Richardson who holds the nation’s only automatic time in the 60m hurdles at 7.58. Sophomores Johnny Dutch and Michael Zajac have also reached provisional marks in their respective events. Dutch, who took fifth place in the 400m hurdles at the U.S. Olympic Trials, has a provisional mark in the 60m hurdles at 7.85; Zajac has a provisional mark in the weight throw at 64-7 (19.68m). The 4x400m relay team also has a provisional time at 3:09.34.

The women have posted five provisional times: one in the 60m hurdles, two in the 60m dash and two in the 400m dash. Senior Ronetta Alexander ran an 8.39 in the 60m hurdles for her time while sophomores Lakya Brookins and Shayla Mahan posted provisional times in the 60m dash at 7.33 and 7.36, respectively. Freshman Nadonnia Rodrigues and junior Brandi Cross reached provisional marks in the 400m after Rodrigues won her collegiate debut at 53.52 and Cross came in second at 54.12.

Arkansas is the top-ranked men’s team followed by Arizona State, Florida, Oregon and Texas A&M. The Gamecocks are one of six SEC teams ranked in the poll as Arkansas (No. 1), Florida (No. 3), LSU (No. 10), Georgia (No. 12) and Kentucky (No. 16) all are nationally ranked.

Texas A&M remains the top-ranked women’s squad, followed by Tennessee, Michigan, LSU and Florida State. South Carolina is one of seven SEC teams ranked in the women’s preseason top-25 as Tennessee (No. 2), LSU (No. 4), Arkansas (No. 14), Florida (No. 15), Auburn (No. 22) and Kentucky (No. 25) all are nationally ranked.

South Carolina returns to the track this Friday when members of the team compete at the 102nd Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Portions of the meet will be broadcast live on ESPN2 from 7-8:30 p.m.