Feb. 8, 2011

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By Miquel Jacobs
Media Relations Assistant

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina senior sprinter Lakya Brookins has been named the SEC Female Runner of the Week for the second time this season after reclaiming the nation’s top time in the 60-meter dash, the conference office announced Tuesday.

Brookins ran the nation’s only sub-7.20 time this year as she won the 60-meter dash at 7.18 at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational. As a result, she holds the top time in the NCAA this year and ranks No. 5 in the world in the event. Only one American – professional sprinter and three-time World Championships gold medalist Lauryn Williams – has run a faster time this Brookins this year. A 2009 NCAA champion, Brookins has hit an NCAA automatic qualifying time in five straight runs, dating back to a first place finish in the Hokie Invitational on January 22. Furthermore, she is the only 60-meter runner in the nation to hit an NCAA automatic qualifying time in every meet of her team’s season.

South Carolina sends split squads out this weekend with the team competing at both the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., and the Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson, S.C.