Feb. 19, 2010

Schedule of Events | Heat Sheets (Subject to change)

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina track programs will host the Gamecock Indoor Open Saturday, Feb. 20, at the USC Field House on the corner of Marion and Whaley Streets. Field events will begin at 10:30 a.m. with the first running event scheduled to begin at 12 noon.

Two former Olympians will compete Saturday in South Carolina assistant coach Lawrence Johnson and Coastal Carolina volunteer assistant Amber Campbell. Johnson, in his third season at South Carolina, was a two-time Olympian in the pole vault in addition to being a seven-time U.S. national champion, four-time NCAA champion and six-time All-American.

Campbell recently competed for the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when she was the top American finisher in the women’s hammer throw at 222’7 (67.86m). Currently in training for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Campbell is in the midst of attempting to break the American record in the weight throw. With a current personal best of 80’6 ¼ (24.54m) set when she won the 2007 USA Indoor National Championships, Campbell’s goal is to reach the American record of 83’10 ¼ (25.56m) held by Brittney Riley. She is coming off a dominating win at the Millrose Games with a 2010 world-leading throw of 79’4 ¾ (24.20m).

In all field events, the women will lead off and will be followed immediately by the men’s portion. Women’s pole vault will begin the action at 10:30 a.m., with the weight throw and high jump both slated to start at 11 a.m. The shot put is set for 1:30 p.m. The running events will begin with the 55-meter hurdles preliminary round at 12 noon. Other running events include the 55-meter dash, mile run, 400-meter dash, 800-meter run and the 3000-meter run. The 4×400-meter relays are slated to begin at 4:20 p.m. and will be followed by the finals for the 55-meter hurdles and dash.

Saturday’s meet will be the final run for the Gamecocks before competing in the SEC Indoor Championships, held Feb. 26-28 in Fayetteville, Ark. The NCAA Indoor Championships will also be held at the Randall Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville.

GAMECOCK INDOOR OPEN SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
10:30 a.m. – Pole Vault (W/M)
11:00 a.m. – Weight Throw (W/M), High Jump (W/M)
12 Noon – 55M Hurdles, Women (prelims) Top 16 to semis
12:30 p.m. – 55M Hurdles, Men (prelims) Top 16 to semis
1:00 p.m. – 55M Dash, Women (prelims) Top 18 to semis
1:30 p.m. – 55M Dash, Men (prelims) Top 18 to semis
1:30 p.m. – Shot Put (W/M)
2:00 p.m. – 55M Hurdles, Women (semi-finals) Top 6 to finals
2:15 p.m. – 55M Hurdles, Men (semi-finals) Top 6 to finals
2:30 p.m. – 55M Dash, Women (semi-finals) Top 9 to finals
2:45 p.m. – 55M Dash, Men (semi-finals) Top 9 to finals
3:00 p.m. – Mile Run, Women (followed by men)
3:15 p.m. – 400M Dash, Women (followed by men)
3:35 p.m. – 800M Run, Women (followed by men)
3:50 p.m. – 3000M Run, Women (followed by men)
4:20 p.m. – 4 X 400M Relay, Women (followed by men)
4:30 p.m. – 55M Hurdles, Women (finals)
4:40 p.m. – 55M Hurdles, Men (finals)
4:50 p.m. – 55M Dash, Women (finals)
5:05 p.m. – 55M Dash, Men (finals)