March 6, 2010

Complete Results

BLACKSBURG, Va. – A large contingent of Gamecocks traveled to Virginia Tech Saturday to compete at the NCAA Final Qualifier, and two posted personal best marks in an effort to earn a bid to next week’s NCAA Indoor Championships.

Janica Austin improved her time in the 60-meter hurdles by placing fourth at a personal best 8.35, and Allison Nicosia took fifth in the pole vault at a personal best and provisional qualifying mark of 13’1 ½ (4.00m) to lead South Carolina at Virginia Tech. Austin recently took bronze at the SEC Indoor Championships, and Nicosia, an NCAA East Region qualifier last year, bested her previous top mark by five inches.

Other provisional marks came from Vica Shobe and Elliott Haynie, both pole vaulters with strong chances at earning bids to nationals. Shobe broke her school record in the pole vault for the third time this season when she took second at 13’10 (4.22m) to remain in the national top 15. Haynie, who won the SEC title last week, cleared 17’1 ½ (5.22m).

Also competing for the men’s team was freshman David Wilkins who cleared a season best 6’9 (2.06m) in the high jump to claim third. A slew of other freshmen competed in the sprints with Chris Maxwell running the 60m (7.12) and the 200m (22.07), and Andre Carter taking fifth in the 400m (48.93).

On the women’s side, freshmen Tatianna Fisher and Kellie Rolle competed in multiple events as well. Fisher ran 7.49 in the semifinals of the 60m and 24.69 in the 200m; Rolle ran 8.11 in the 60m and 27.53 in the 200m.