Jan. 23, 2010

Complete Results

BLACKBURG, Va. – Seven-time All-American Brandi Cross notched her first provisional time of the year in the 400m dash and led the women’s 4x400m relay to a victory as the South Carolina track and field programs concluded competition Saturday at the Hokie Invitational at the Rector Field House.

Cross ran a 53.83 to take third in the 400m open before later running the first leg of the relay team that included Nadonnia Rodrigues, Gabrielle Glenn and Breehana Jacobs to claim first at 3:40.79.

In addition to the relay team’s victory, senior Vica Shobe took second in the pole vault but was the top collegiate finisher in the event with a clearance of 12’11 ½ (3.95m). The mark is a personal best for Shobe, a 2009 NCAA East Region participant.

“Those were two big runs for Brandi today,” South Carolina head coach Curtis Frye said. “Vica setting a personal best in the pole vault and leading our field events was also great. Overall, it was a good weekend that sets us up for the coming week when we compete at the Texas A&M Challenge.”

Other members of the seventh-ranked Gamecock women’s team also earned top marks on the day, including high jumper Staley Foster who claimed third in the high jump at 5-4 ½ (1.64m), Glenn who claimed fifth in the 200m dash at 24.45 and freshman Breanna Radford who took fifth in the shot put at 45-8 ½ (13.93m).

The 12th-ranked Gamecock men also had strong performances from senior Obakeng Ngwigwa, who took third in the 400m open at 48.49 and ran the first leg of the 4x400m relay team that included Quentin Moore, Antonio Sales and Scott Pierce to claim fourth at 3:12.45.

Sales placed sixth in the 200m with a time of 21.77. Pierce came within seconds of earning his first provisional time in the 800m by taking fourth in the event at 1:53.52. Pierce concluded a busy day with a clearance of 6’6 ¼ (1.99m) in the high jump, tying for 12th in the event with teammate David Wilkins.

“The relays are both looking strong,” Frye said. “In addition, Scott (Pierce) had an excellent weekend that will prepare him for Texas A&M and for the conference championships as well.”

Competing in the distance events were freshman Robert Razick and senior Daniel Smoak. Razick took 18th in the 1000m run at 2:34.29, and Smoak placed sixth in the 5,000m run at 15:12.28. Sierra Henderson led the Gamecock women in the middle distances by placing ninth in the 800m at 2:13.89.

In the field events, Aaron Searles took 18th in the long jump at 21-6 (6.55m) and Andrew Finley led a quartet of men in the shot put by placing 12th with a toss of 48’1 ¾ (14.67m). On the women’s side, freshman Ceci Kryst placed 10th in the long jump at 18’3 ¼ (5.58m). In addition to Radford in the shot put, sophomores Katie Vuckovich (44’1 ¼, 13.70m) and Stacee Roberts (43’5 ¼, 13.24m) also finished in the top 10.

In the men’s pole vault, Matt Shuler placed ninth at 15’9 ¾ (4.82m). For the women, in addition to Shobe’s top showing, senior Sallie Gurganus cleared 11’11 ¾ (3.65m) to place 11th.

“With Radiance Basden out of the triple jump, it was really a step up for Ceci Kryst to jump over 37-feet in the triple jump yesterday and 18-feet in the long jump today,” Frye said. “The season bests for Breanna Radford in the throws were also encouraging. We also have people that have been injured that are on their way back, so things are looking promising. We’re looking forward to next weekend.”

South Carolina returns to action next weekend when the team competes at the SEC-Big12-Pac10 Challenge on the campus of Texas A&M University.