March 7, 2009

Complete Results in PDF Format

BLACKSBURG, Va. – South Carolina senior sprinter Johnathan Hancock needed the run of his life to earn his bid to the NCAA Indoor Championships next weekend in the 60m dash. After entering Saturday’s last chance meet at Virginia Tech 17th nationally in terms of season best times and probably looking outside of the NCAA cutoff, Hancock took control of his own destiny by running the third-fastest time in South Carolina history to notch an automatic qualifying time of 6.63 seconds and guarantee his trip to College Station, Texas.

Meanwhile, senior shot putter Jason Cook also cemented his first trip to the indoor nationals after throwing a personal best 61-11.00 (18.87m) to win the event and move to tenth in the nation this year.

“Hancock just ran the third fastest 60m in school history behind names like Terrence Trammell and Corey Bridges who was a great wide receiver in football,” South Carolina head coach Curtis Frye said. “Those are great All-American guys who scored in nationals before. It’s also an automatic time in his last race of the year. He had to run an automatic time to make nationals, and that’s a lot of pressure to still go out, do it and win the meet. Jason Cook hit another personal best with the third longest throw in school history behind people like Kevin Mannon and a hall of famer in Brad Snyder. He got himself into a great group of names. Those were two big highlights for us this weekend.”

Another running and throwing duo for the 14th-ranked men’s team, this one being a sophomore duo, also improved their top times this year to solidify bids in hurdler Johnny Dutch and weight thrower Michael Zajac. Dutch moved up to tenth nationally in the 60m hurdles with a time of 7.79 seconds before classmate Zajac won the weight throw at 68-05.25 (20.86m), marking the third consecutive week that Zajac tossed a personal best during his ascension to the nation’s upper echelon in the event.

“With Johnny Dutch hitting the tenth fastest time in the country in the hurdles, he now has a shot at being a scorer at the national meet,” Frye said. “Michael Zajac PR’d again to move himself to No. 11 in the country. Also in the hurdles, Booker Nunley ran a 7.86 twice, which is fantastic for a freshman during the indoor season. We’re looking forward to big things from him outdoors.”

On the women’s side, senior Ronnetta Alexander was able to increase her top time this season after placing second in the meet at 8.18 seconds in the 60m hurdles. She missed her personal best by only one-hundredth of a second, a strong feat considering she missed the entire 2008 season due to injury. Along with her, sophomore Lakya Brookins again ran a 7.22 as the All-American prepares to vie for an NCAA title in the 60m dash.

“Kya Brookins ran a 7.22 for the third tie this year,” Frye noted. “The next great run was Ronnetta Alexander who overcame an Achilles tear last year to come back and get 8.18 seconds for a top 10 time and a chance to get into nationals. In addition, Shayla Mahan ran great rounds today in the 60m. Those were the great women’s performances.”

South Carolina also had strong performances from other members of the contingent of 35 student-athletes that traveled to compete at the Rector Field House in Blacksburg. Mahan won the 60m dash at 7.29 seconds, and Sallie Gurganus improved her personal best in the pole vault to 13-02.25 (4.02m), a mark that is good for second in program history.

Performances for the men include freshman Marvin Reitze clearing a 17 feet (5.18m) for the second consecutive weekend in the pole vault while senior Curt McGill consistently jumped over 23 feet in the long jump, claiming a best mark of 23-06.25 (7.17m) Saturday.

“Marvin had a great shot at making nationals, but he had a great indoor season,” Frye said. “We had an open athlete that will be eligible outdoors in Elliott Haynie who got 17-5 which would have gotten him into the national meet. We had a lot of things on the men’s side that were fantastic.”

The Gamecocks travel to College Station, Texas next weekend for the NCAA Indoor Championships held on the campus of Texas A&M University. The championships will be held March 13-14 as the No. 8 women’s team and No. 14 men’s team both look to post solid team performances at the Gillam Track Center.

“It looks like we’ll have seven men and six women going to the meet,” Frye said. “We’re thinking with relays there will be 10 athletes on the men’s side and nine on the women’s side (heading to NCAA’s), so it’s a big contingency for the Gamecocks going to the national championship. We’re excited. We had a great year so far.”