Jan. 22, 2011

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By Miquel Jacobs
Media Relations Assistant

BLACKSBURG, Va. – South Carolina freshmen Sanura Eley-O’Reilly and Clayton Gravesande picked up collegiate victories in the 400m dash Saturday to lead the Gamecocks in action at the Hokie Invitational at the Rector Field House. Gravesande led a 1-3-7 finish for the Gamecock men while Eley-O’Reilly earned her first collegiate victory in her marquee event.

Eley-O’Reilly ran 54.99 to claim the women’s victory with only unattached and Olympic gold medalist Dee Dee Trotter finishing ahead of the true freshman as an exhibition sprint for the former NCAA Champion. Gravesande won the men’s race at 48.11 and was closely followed by teammates Andre Carter (3rd, 48.16) and Aaron Anderson (7th, 48.36).

Shayla Mahan claimed second overall in the 200m dash at 23.81 as she continues to move towards an NCAA automatic bid mark. Kelsey McCorkle placed ninth at 24.56. In the 5000m run, Nicole Rheinlander remains unbeaten on the young season with a victory at 18:15.42.

The women’s 4x400m relay team of Vashti Bandi, Nadonnia Rodriques, Janica Austin and Eley-O’Reilly claimed second at 3:41.66. A newcomer in freshman Jeannelle Scheper enjoyed a strong opening week in claiming second in the high jump at 5’6 ½ (1.69m) and 21st in the long jump at 17’0 (5.18m). Scheper and Staley Foster each cleared the top bar in the high jump but took second and third on attempts. Ceci Kryst also jumped in the long jump, following Scheper for 22nd at 16’10 ¾ (5.15m).

Antonio Sales and Chris Royster each posted top 10 finishes in the 200m dash while senior Matt Shuler improved his season best in the pole vault to 17’1 ½ (5.22m) to place fourth. The men’s 4x400m relay team of Anderson, Gravesande, Carter and Antonio Sales took fourth at 3:12.98.

In the throws, Michael Zajac claimed sixth in the shot put at 52’8 (16.05m), and was followed by Andrew Finely and Louis Day. The Gamecock jumpers also competed Saturday with David Wilkins taking seventh in the high jump with a clearance of 6’10 ¼ (2.09m) for the second straight week. A trio of freshmen competed in the long jump, led by Dorian Johnson.

South Carolina will host its first home meet of the season Wednesday at the USC Fieldhouse.