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May 16, 2009

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Jason Cook | Throws Coach Mike Sergent

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In the third day of competition at the SEC Outdoor Championships, senior Jason Cook became the first Gamecock to win the shot put title in 11 year, junior Elliott Haynie took silver medal honors in the pole vault and Erik Heymann claimed bronze in the javelin to lead South Carolina heading into the final day of competition.

Cook became just the third Gamecock to win the SEC outdoor title in the shot put and did so with a toss of 63-04.75 (19.32m) on his fifth throw (second throw of the finals). However, in the finals Cook was the only thrower to hit over 18 meters as his first throw of 18.45m seemed to lock up the field with six of the final nine fouling out on all three attempts. Three-time SEC champion Brad Snyder last won the shot put for South Carolina in the 1999 outdoor season.

“It really does help a lot to get the first throw out,” Cook said. “If you take a good first throw, it takes the pressure off yourself, shocks people and causes them to put pressure on themselves … It’s amazing. It hasn’t really set in yet because it just happened, but it’s something that I’ve been working towards for five years. It finally happened and it feels great. I wish I could have thrown a little farther, but I have a couple of weeks left (to improve).”

“It really runs deep with me because Jason went to my high school and he was a kid that broke my high school records,” South Carolina throws coach Mike Sergent said. “He’s been an outstanding member of the Carolina family the last five years. A lot of people came up to me after he won and said Jason really deserved that. It’s emotional for me because of the connection and because he’s such a great guy on the team. He’s a hard worker and a good teammate that’s been through all the things a college guy goes throw in starting rough and finishing with a big bang. SEC Championships are very hard to come by. It’s a very elite selective group, and for him to go out like this is tremendous.”

Haynie continues to make an impact in his first season at South Carolina as the transfer from Gardner-Webb claimed second in the pole vault with a clearance of 17-05.75 (5.33m) to give the Gamecocks eight team points on the day. Haynie was not eligible to compete indoors, but the junior and four-time Atlantic Sun champion remained strong and currently ranks fifth in the nation and first in the Gamecock record books with a top clearance of 17-10.50 (5.45m) that was also set at Percy Beard Track earlier this year at the Pepsi Florida Relays.

Freshman Marvin Reitze, who claimed third at the indoor championships, took fifth at 16-10.75 (5.15m) in just his third meet of the outdoor season. Sophomore Matt Shuler took 10th at a regional qualifying mark of 16-06.75 (5.05m) and Kevin Brinkley tied for 11th at 16-00.75 (4.90m).

Junior Erik Heymann came into the championships seeded 11th overall in the javelin throw but tossed a season best 220-01 (67.08m) to take bronze medal honors. The throw was 14 feet farther than his previous season best as he matched his career best finish at the championships after also taking third in the event as a freshman in 2007. Freshman Andrew Vaughan placed 17th at a personal best 188-02 (57.36m).

Freshman Beatrice Biwott scored in the final event of the day in placing fourth in the 3000m steeplechase at 10:48.77, the first regional qualifying time of her career. The finish bests her own school record in the event by 24 seconds, as she becomes the first Gamecock to score in the steeplechase in Carolina history.

Sophomore Aimee Kodat placed seventh in the discus throw at 154-03 (47.04m) to score in the event for the second consecutive year. Freshman Shantelle Patterson, who hit a 17-foot PR in the hammer throw Friday, took 16th in the discus at 123-03 (37.57m).

Reigning champion Jason Richardson won the preliminary round of the 110m hurdles at 13.69 as South Carolina placed three into the finals of the event. Freshman Booker Nunley took third at 13.86 and sophomore Johnny Dutch placed sixth at 14.07. On the women’s side, sophomore Janica Austin qualified for finals with a sixth place finish at 13.83.

Indoor All-American and 60m dash national champion Lakya Brookins tied for first in the prelims of the 100m dash at 11.34 and finishes second officially with a time breakdown at 11.338 seconds as one of three Gamecock divas to advance to the finals in the event. Fellow sophomores Shayla Mahan and Gabrielle Glenn also advanced at identical times with Mahan taking seventh at 11.57 (11.563) and Glenn taking eighth at 11.57 (11.568). For the men, Johnathan Hancock earned the final spot to the championship round at 10.40 for ninth place. Antonio Sales ran a season best 10.42 to take 11th overall.

Junior Brandi Cross advanced after winning her heat and placing third overall in the 400m dash at 53.97. Sophomore Porche Byrd just missed finals with an 11th place finish at 55.70, and freshmen Breehana Jacobs and Kelsey McCorkle placed 13th and 17th, respectively, at 55.87 and 57.37.

Junior Obakeng Ngwigwa advanced on the men’s side of the 400m dash at 46.47, good for seventh place at his season best time. Quentin Moore just missed the finals in placing 10th at a regional qualifying time of 46.95. Aaron Anderson (48.06), Eddie Stoudemire (48.24) and Steve Hunsaker (52.78) also ran for the Gamecocks.

Aaron Searles and Jarrett Gerald placed 17th and 18th, respectively, in the long jump with jumps of 22-04.50 (6.82m) and 22-04.25 (6.81m).

Junior Danielle Barnes placed 16th in the women’s 1500m run at 4:35.10.

Competition concludes Sunday at the championships beginning with the women’s javelin throw at noon. Running events will begin at 5 p.m. with the men’s 4x100m relay. The South Carolina men’s team enters the final day in seventh place with 31 points. The women’s team is in eight place with nine points.

SATURDAY, MAY 16 – WOMEN
W-100m Prelims (Qualifier: 11.75)
2. Lakya Brookins 11.34q (11.338) Q
7. Shayla Mahan 11.57q (11.563) Q
8. Gabrielle Glenn 11.57q (11.568) Q
W-400m Prelims (Qualifier: 54.61)
3. Brandi Cross 53.97q Q
11. Porche Byrd 55.70
13. Breehana Jacobs 55.87
17. Kelsey McCorkle 57.37
W-1500m Run Prelims (Qualifier: 4:27.80)
16. Danielle Barnes 4:35.10
W-100m Hurdles Prelims (Qualifier: 13.92)
6. Janica Austin 13.83q Q
W-3000m Steeplechase (Qualifier: 10:50.25)
4. Beatrice Biwott 10:48.77 Q
W-Discus Throw (Qualifier: 47.30m)
7. Aimee Kodat 47.03m // 154-03
16. Shantelle Patterson 37.57m // 123-03
SATURDAY, MAY 16 – MEN
M-100m Prelims (Qualifier: 10.55)
9. Johnathan Hancock 10.40q Q
11. Antonio Sales 10.42 Q
M-400m Prelims (Qualifier: 47.20)
7. Obakeng Ngwigwa 46.47q Q
10. Quentin Moore 46.95 Q
20. Aaron Anderson 48.06
22. Eddie Stoudemire 48.24
29. Steve Hunsaker 52.78
M-110m Hurdles Prelims (Qualifier: 14.30)
1. Jason Richardson 13.69q Q
3. Booker Nunley 13.86q Q
6. Johnny Dutch 14.07q Q
M-Pole Vault (Qualifier: 5.05m)
2. Elliott Haynie 5.33m // 17-05.75 Q
5. Marvin Reitze 5.15m // 16-10.75 Q
10. Matt Shuler 5.05m // 16-06.75 Q
T11. Kevin Brinkley 4.90m // 16-00.75
M-Long Jump (Qualifier: 7.34m)
17. Aaron Searles 6.82m // 22-04.50
18. Jarrett Gerald 6.81m // 22-04.25
22. Curt McGill 6.59m // 21-07.50
M-Shot Put (Qualifier: 16.80m)
1. Jason Cook 19.32m // 63-04.75 Q
14. David Zaycek 15.36m // 50-04.75
M-Javelin Throw (Qualifier: 61.60m)
3. Erik Heymann 67.08m // 220-01 Q
17. Andrew Vaughan 57.36m // 188-02