Feb. 6, 2009

NEW YORK, N.Y. – On the first day of competition on one of the biggest stages for indoor track and field, the South Carolina men’s and women’s programs posted eight provisional times and 11 season best marks to start competition at the prestigious New Balance Collegiate Invitational held at the Armory Track and Field Center in upper Manhattan.

Sophomore Lakya Brookins, always one to put up strong times in the short sprints, finished the day second in the 60-meter dash finals at 7.34 after running a season best 7.33 in a preliminary round effort that also was second. Brookins has run a provisional mark in every meet since the Tom Jones Memorial. Fellow sophomore Shayla Mahan took 12th in the prelims at a provisional mark of 7.44 before taking fifth in the consolation final at 7.49.

Perhaps one of the brightest moments of the day for the men was Johnny Dutch who took third in the 60-meter hurdles with a 7.85 after winning the preliminary round at a season-best 7.83. The runs give Dutch provisional marks in two consecutive meets after also earning a qualifying time in his last appearance at the Tom Jones Memorial.

On the women’s side, Ronnetta Alexander hit another provisional mark in the 60-meter hurdles while KeKe Clarke came within .03 seconds of her first provisional in the event after running an 8.46 in the consolation final. Alexander placed sixth in the prelims at 8.38 before taking eighth in the final at a season best 8.33; both times were provisional marks for the redshirt senior.

Two of the nation’s premier women’s 400-meter runners qualified for Saturday’s final after placing fifth and sixth in Friday’s prelim. Freshman Nadonnia Rodrigues won her heat to qualify at a provisional time of 53.68 in a return to her home state of New York. Brandi Cross followed right behind at 53.99, a season best for the five-time All-American. Porche Byrd ran a 54.87 in her first run of the season, narrowly missing the final with a 14th place finish.

Jason Cook threw his first provisional time of the year in the shot put with a toss of 58-07.25 (17.86m) Friday. He becomes the first Gamecock to notch a provisional time in the shot put on the year.

Johnathan Hancock hit a personal best in the 60-meter dash after taking second in the consolation final at a provisional time of 6.70. Hancock started the day in 12th in the prelims at 6.74, which was his first provisional run of the year. Lamar Markett ran a 6.87, Antonio Sales hit his season best at 6.90 and Bryce Sherman ran a 6.99.

Eddie Stoudemire has continued to come on strong after missing the 2008 season and set a personal best in the long jump at 23-01.25 (7.04m), surpassing his previous best by three inches.

Liza Todd and Sallie Gurganus both cleared 12-05.50 (3.80m) in the women’s pole vault championship. Todd placed in a tie for ninth while Gurganus placed 12th. The mark was a season best for Gurganus. In the women’s college pole vault division, freshman Allison Nicosia took sixth with a season best clearance of 11-09.75 (3.60m).

Other Gamecocks competing included freshman Beatrice Biwott who had a season best in the 3,000-meter run at 10:06.68. Junior Scott Pierce took 14th in the men’s 500-meter run at 1:04.93. Women’s shot putters Aimee Kodat (39-11.25/12.17m) and Shantelle Patterson (39-02.25/11.94m) competed with Kodat’s mark registering as a season best.

The distance medley relay was composed of Danielle Barnes (1200m), Breehana Jacobs (400m), Laura Pramstaller (800m) and Beatrice Biwott (1600m). In their first race of the season, the Gamecocks took 16th at 11:54.37 after an exceptionally strong leadoff run by Barnes.