March 12, 2009
| NCAA Indoor Championships | Fri.-Sun., Mar. 13-14 |
Championship Central | Live Results | Meet Notes  |
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (Men-#9, Women-#8) travels to the NCAA Indoor Championships May 13-14 at the Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium in College Station, Texas, with the nation’s eighth-largest contingent as the team earned 13 entries – seven for the men and six for the women.
The Gamecock men will compete five individuals and the 4x400m relay team. Senior Jason Richardson, who entered the week and still holds the top time in the nation in the 60m hurdles, will not compete at the championships due to injury. The Gamecock women will also compete five individuals and the 4x400m relay team.
Live coverage of the championships can be found online at www.ESPN360.com. A 90-minute highlight broadcast will be televised on a tape-delay broadcast by ESPN2 on Monday, March 23, at 2:30 p.m.
SOUTH CAROLINA NCAA DECLARATIONS - MEN
Name Event Competing (CT) Notes
Jason Cook Shot Put Fri. 6:50 pm SEC runner-up at 1st NCAA Indoors
Johnny Dutch 60m Hurdles Fri. 4:45 pm Missed `08 Indoors with injury
Johnathan Hancock 60m Fri. 5:45 pm Ran automatic at Last Chance meet
Jason Richardson 60m Hurdles N/A Only ran two races due to hamstring - WILL NOT COMPETE
Antonio Sales 200m Fri. 6:45 pm 2008 USA Jr. National Champion
Michael Zajac 35lb-Weight Sat. 5 pm Improved PR each of last 5 meets
4x400m Relay Sat. 7:25 pm SEC runner-up with automatic time
Relay Team: Quentin Moore, Johnny Dutch, Obakeng Ngwigwa, Aaron Anderson (ALT: Scott Pierce)
SOUTH CAROLINA NCAA DECLARATIONS - WOMEN
Name Event Competing (CT) Notes
Ronnetta Alexander 60m Hurdles Fri. 4:30 pm Missed `08 season with Achilles injury
Lakya Brookins 60m Fri. 5:30 pm Ran automatic in three straight races
Brandi Cross 400m Fri. 5 pm US Olympic Trials semifinalist
Shayla Mahan 60m Fri. 5:30 pm Also automatic at 7.23 seconds
Nadonnia Rodrigues 400m Fri. 5 pm SEC Freshman Runner of the Year
4x400m Relay Sat. 7:10 pm SEC Champion at 3:33.50
Relay Team: Brandi Cross, Nadonnia Rodrigues, Breehana Jacobs, Porche Byrd (ALT: Janica Austin, Gabrielle Glenn)
SOUTH CAROLINA MEN AT 2009 SEC INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
The South Carolina men placed in a tie for fourth with 65 points and six medalists, the team’s best finish since taking third in 2003. Senior Jason Richardson won his first indoor title when he claimed the 60m hurdles at 7.58 to lead Carolina. Throwers Jason Cook and Michael Zajac both took second in their respective events with Cook tossing 18.36m in the shot put and Zajac throwing 20.76m in the weight throw. In addition, the 4x400m relay team ran the nation’s third fastest time at 3:06.11 to claim second. Bronze medalists include Scott Pierce who had a personal best 5,325 points in the heptathlon and Marvin Reitze, the only freshman to clear a height (5.18m) in the pole vault at the meet.
SOUTH CAROLINA WOMEN AT 2009 SEC INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Gamecock women earned its 12th top five finish in the last 13 seasons as Carolina placed fifth with 57 points and four medalists. The 4x400m relay team (Nadonnia Rodrigues, Brandi Cross, Breehana Jacobs, Porche Byrd) ran the nation’s fastest time this year en route to an SEC Championship at 3:33.50. The Gamecocks had a trio of third place finishers in Ronnetta Alexander (60m hurdles – 8.20), Lakya Brookins (60m dash – 7.24) and Nadonnia Rodrigues (400m dash – 53.41).
