March 23, 2011

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By Miquel Jacobs
Media Relations Assistant

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s track and field is ranked No. 20 in the 2011 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) preseason outdoor computer ranking. The USTFCCCA preseason computer rankings measure only what a team returns from last year’s outdoor season and does not take into account incoming classes.

The Gamecock men’s squad returns nine athletes that are ranked in the top 50 in their respective events, led by top 10 rankings for the 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay, Marvin Reitze in the pole vault and Antonio Sales in the 200m dash. Also ranked individually are David Wilkins in the high jump, Michael Zajac in the hammer throw and Lincoln Carr in the triple jump.

The women’s squad holds a computer ranking of No. 42 after placing 51st at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships. The Gamecock squad returns All-Americans Lakya Brookins, Shayla Mahan, Gabrielle Glenn and Nadonnia Rodriques in addition to SEC stars Beatrice Biwott and Janica Austin.

Florida tops the men’s preseason rankings and is followed by No. 2 Texas A&M, No. 3 Texas Tech, No. 4 Florida State and No. 5 LSU. Nine SEC teams are ranked in the men’s preseason top-25.

Texas A&M is the top-ranked women’s squad followed by No. 2 Oregon, No. 3 LSU, No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 5 Southern California. Four SEC teams are ranked in the women’s preseason top-25.

South Carolina returns to the track this weekend when the team hosts the Weems Baskin Invitational at the Weems Baskin Track Facility Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.