June 23, 2011

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By Miquel Jacobs
Media Relations Assistant

EUGENE, Ore. – Five athletes with University of South Carolina ties advanced to their respective semifinals to open competition Thursday at the 2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships held at Heyward Field in Track Town, USA.

Former Gamecock Lashinda Demus began the day well for South Carolina affiliated athletes with a win in the preliminary round of the women’s 400-meter hurdles. Demus crossed the line first at 55.15 and is one of 16 to advance to the semifinal that will be run Friday at 7:45 p.m. (ET). Demus is in search of her fourth USA title in seven years after taking home gold in 2005, 2006 and 2009.

In the women’s 400-meter dash prelims, Olympian Natasha Hastings took third with a time of 51.71 to qualify for the semifinal. She will compete in the semifinals Friday at 8:30 p.m. (ET) with the hope of advancing to the final for the third consecutive year. Hastings has improved in the event each of the past two seasons having placed fourth in 2009 and third in 2010. First-year professional Brandi Cross placed 19th overall with a time of 53.77, missing the semifinal cut by two spots and less than one second.

Four former Gamecocks competed in the women’s 100-meter dash prelim, and two advanced to the semifinal. Olympian Miki Barber took third in the prelim with at time of 11.09 (+1.6) while recent graduate Lakya Brookins took eighth overall at 11.17 (+1.6). Both will compete in the semifinals Friday at 7:15 p.m. (ET) with the final being run two hours later at 9:10 p.m. (ET). 2011 senior Shayla Mahan missed the semifinal cut by one spot, taking 19th overall at 11.383 (+2.4) and falling four-hundredths of a second behind the final qualifying position. Former Gamecock and 2005 US Champion Lisa Barber took 23rd overall at 11.49 (+1.7).

The final Gamecocks to compete in opening day action at the USA Outdoor Championships were Olympians Leroy Dixon and Rodney Martin in the men’s 100-meter dash prelim. Dixon advanced with a time of 10.21 (+1.3) to take 14th overall while Martin placed 32nd overall at 10.56. Dixon will compete in the semifinals on Friday at 7:25 p.m. (ET) with the final set for 9:20 p.m. (ET).

Also taking place at Heyward Field is the USA Junior Championships, and incoming freshman Kaleb Zuidema (Midland Park, N.J.) placed fourth overall in the javelin. Zuidema’s best throw was his final of the day at 207’9 (63.34m), pushing the Midland Park HS graduate from eighth to fourth overall with his last throw.