May 8, 2011

CLEMSON, S.C. – South Carolina sophomore Breanna Radford hit big personal bests in the shot put and hammer throw Saturday to lead the Gamecock distance and field events athletes at the Bob Pollock Invitational in Clemson.

Radford won the shot put at 49’2 ¼ (14.99m) and took fourth in the hammer throw at 157-10 (48.12m) to notch two personal bests on the short day. Junior Katie Vuckovich also hit PR’s in both events, taking second in the shot put at 48’4 ½ (14.74m) and sixth in the hammer at 135-11 (41.42m). Classmate Stacee Roberts hit her own personal best in the hammer throw with a fifth-place finish at 153-07 (46.81m).

Aimee Kodat won the discus throw with a mark of 157-02. In the pole vault, Angela Rummans and Allie Nicosia both tied for second with clearances of 12’3 ½ (3.75m), a mark that is a season best for Nicosia. Freshman Emily Laurence took third in the javelin at 118-04 (36.07m).

Junior Beatrice Biwott won the steeplechase with a time of 10:46.01. In the other women’s distance event, Jessica Hartman and Penny Boswell ran in the 1500-meter run with Hartman hitting a personal best time of 4:53.19 to take third.

On the men’s side, Marvin Reitze cleared a season best 16’10 ¾ (5.15m) in the pole vault, continuing his gradual progression this outdoor season after missing the indoor campaign due to recurring injury.

In the lone running event for the men’s team, Drew Ricci ran the 800-meter run at a personal best time of 1:52.85 to take third overall.

The throws were led by runner-up finishes by Michael Zajac in the hammer throw and discus throw. Zajac threw a season best 202-05 (61.69m) in the hammer. Louis Day hit a personal best in the discus at 151-04 (46.12m).

South Carolina travels to Athens, Ga., next week to compete at the 2011 SEC Outdoor Championships at the University of Georgia.