April 28, 2011

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By Miquel Jacobs
Media Relations Assistant

PHILADELPHIA – South Carolina sophomore Breanna Radford won her first Penn Relays title after claiming the victory Thursday afternoon in the shot put with a toss of 48’9 ½ (14.87m) at Franklin Field. The mark ties her personal best and led a rain-delayed day one for the Gamecock women.

The relays were delayed nearly two hours due to rain in the Philadelphia area. Radford’s throw was followed by a fourth-place finish from junior Katie Vuckovich with a toss of 46’9 (14.25m). Stacee Roberts placed seventh at 45’9 ¼ (13.95m).

The women’s 4×100-meter relay team of Lakya Brookins, Shayla Mahan, Gabrielle Glenn and Vashti Bandy advanced to compete in tomorrow’s Championship of America after placing fifth overall at 44.78 in the heats. The final will be run Friday at 1:05 p.m. In the other relay of the day, the women’s 4×400-meter relay team of Janica Austin, Amber Allen, Vashti Bandy and Sanura Eley-O’Reilly took 16th at 3:42.96 and will compete in the college final Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Freshman Angela Rummans had a career day in the women’s pole vault with a runner-up finish at 13’1 ½ (4.00m) in her first appearance at the Penn Relays as a Gamecock. Rummans’s mark was a new personal best and moves her to No. 4 on the Gamecock all-time list. Junior Allie Nicosia took 24th at 11’5 ¾ (3.50m).

Just three days after earning bronze medal honors at the CARIFTA Games in Montego Bay, Jamaica, freshman Jeannelle Scheper earned bronze in the high jump at the Penn Relays with a top clearance of 5’7 ¾ (1.72m).

Three Gamecocks competed in the 400-meter hurdles with freshman Amber Allen leading the way with a time of 59.54 to place sixth overall. Austin placed 10th at 1:00.20, and Radiance Basden took 13th at 1:00.29.

The 5,000-meter run was the final event of the day for the Gamecocks, and senior Ashley Evens placed 24th at 18:11.62.

South Carolina returns to the track Friday morning beginning with the men’s 400-meter hurdles at 9 a.m. Freshman Nejmi Burnside will begin the day for the Gamecocks in the event.