Feb. 2, 2011

COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of South Carolina sophomore Kimberly McCormack has been selected to compete at the second annual WEF Collegiate Equitation Challenge, it was announced this week.

The competition will be held at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, on Friday, February 11.

“Kimmy will represent the University of South Carolina very well at the Winter Equestrian Festival Collegiate Invitational,” South Carolina head coach Boo Major said.

McCormack has competed 13 times for the Gamecocks during the 2010-2011 season, and has already earned five MVP awards. She has an overall record of 5-8, and McCormack is 2-4 in Equitation, and 3-4 in Equitation Over Fences.

McCormack will join 15 other collegiate riders in a single-elimination, bracket format Equitation Over Fences competition. There will be 16 riders in eight head-to-head parings, with the eight winning riders moving on to compete in the next bracket, followed by a final four and championship head-to-head format.

“Kimmy has been a solid performer over fences for the past two years including last year’s national championship. She has had her frustrations and triumphs over the past two years in collegiate equestrian,” Major said. “Each of those experiences will help her to be successful at WEF. She is an integral part of our team and I am sure she will represent our team admirably next weekend.”

Last year, McCormack posted a team-high 15 wins, including a perfect 4-0 mark at the 2010 Varsity Equestrian National Championships. She was named Varsity Equestrian National Championships Hunter Seat MVP, the highest individual honor a rider can receive.

McCormack is the second Gamecock to compete in the event. In 2010, then-senior Nicole Bourgeois represented the South Carolina equestrian program.