April 22, 2010

PHILADELPHIA – The No. 23 South Carolina women’s track and field team began competition Thursday at the 116th annual Penn Relays and was led by the 4x100m relay team earning a bid to Friday’s Championship of America.

The 4x100m relay team of Lakya Brookins, Gabrielle Glenn, Breehana Jacobs and Shayla Mahan advanced to compete in Friday’s Championship of America after placing sixth at 44.41. The final will be run Friday at 1:05 p.m. In the other relay of the day, the 4x400m relay team of Nadonnia Rodrigues, Kelsey McCorkle, Brandi Cross and Porche Byrd ran 3:38.07 to place 10th overall. That group will compete in the college final Saturday at 5:35 p.m.

The prestigious Penn Relay began Thursday morning at 10 a.m. with the 400-meter hurdles, and four Gamecocks competed in the event. Junior Janica Austin placed in the top 10 in the event for the second consecutive year after running a season best 59.72 to place ninth. Sophomore Radiance Basden finished 15th at 1:00.43, senior Kettiany Clarke finished 24th at 1:00.91 and senior Trier Young placed 48th at 1:05.09.

In the long jump college section, senior Brittney James jumped to a new season best in the long jump by over a foot by placing second overall at a non-wind aided 19’11 ¾ (6.09m).

Three competed in the shot put with sophomores Stacee Roberts and Katie Vuckovich placing seventh and eighth, respectively. Roberts tossed 46’9 ½ (14.26m) and Vuckovich threw 45’4 ¼ (13.77m) with freshman Breanna Radford placing 13th at 44’0 (13.41m).

Gamecocks competed in two pole vault sections with senior Vica Shobe competing in the championship section and two others – senior Sallie Gurganus and sophomore Allison Nicosia – competing in the college section. Shobe placed third in her section with a clearance of 12’11 ½ (3.95m). In the college section, Gurganus placed 11th at 12’6 (3.81m) and Nicosia placed 17th at 12’0 (3.66m).

The 3,000-meter steeplechase was the final event of the day for Carolina, and sophomore Beatrice Biwott placed 14 at 10:58.53.

South Carolina returns to the track tomorrow as U.S. Outdoor Championship and NCAA silver medalist and four-time All-American Johnny Dutch hits the track at 9:00 am to compete in the men’s 400m hurdles.