Jan. 12, 2013

Results

COLUMBIA, S.C. –

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The South Carolina track and field team started their season with several personal bests on their way to 12 wins in the first of two USC Indoor Open meets that will be held at the USC Indoor Complex in January. Senior Breanna Radford highlighted the day, recording new personal bests in both the weight throw and the shot put.

“It was a meet where we could extend our practice, open the season and get rid of the jitters. As we go in the season, it gets more intense. We go from an anthill to a molehill to a mountaintop. We had a couple freshmen run well in the hurdles – (Jermaine) Collier and (Dondre) Echols. I’m excited about that. Kierre (Beckles) had a good opener in the hurdles. We had another good hurdler in (Chelese) Davis. We also had some distance kids on this square track have some personal bests. We had good things happen. Bre (Breanna Radford) opened with a personal best. This is just something that we build on, ” said head coach Curtis Frye of the day.

The Gamecocks kicked off the day by sweeping the weight throw competition behind personal bests by senior Breanna Radford and sophomore Andrew Seay. Radford threw for 56-10 (17.32m) while Seay recorded a 56-05.75 (17.21m). Radford bested her prior personal best by over two feet and Seay by over three. Sophomore Walker Selby also marked a personal best of 51-00.25 (15.55m) in the weight throw to take third in the section.

Multiple freshmen made an impact in their first time competing in the distance events for the Garnet and Black. In the women’s mile run, freshman Lannon McCoy finished in second with a time of 5:46.33 and sophomore Daniel Novak posted a win in the men’s section with a time of 4:43.94. Freshman Anna Todd won the 800-meter dash, running a 2:25.99 on the women’s side and freshman Drew Galang took the men’s section with a 2:05.86. Setting a new PR, freshman Lauren Kahre recorded a 10:50.07 in the 3,000-meter run. Freshman Christine Kent crossed the finish line just behind her at 10:54.52.

In the sprints, the Gamecocks earned three wins in four events. Senior Kierre Beckles got things going for South Carolina in the 55-meter hurdles, recording the top time in the prelims (7.70) and following up the performance with a 7.74 in the finals to lead a 1-2-3 finish for the Gamecocks in both the prelims and the finals. Sophomore Chalese Davis crossed the line at 8.02 and freshman Tyler Brockington improved her prelim time of 8.42 to an 8.28 to place third. Two South Carolina freshmen took second and third in the men’s section. Dondre Echols finished in 7.38 and Jermaine Collier hit 7.56 to take third.

In the men’s 55-meter dash, sophomore Kendall Kee led the way, getting the win with a 6.29. Junior Chris Royster was just behind him with a time of 6.33 and sophomore Eric Winfrey was the third Gamecock in the top four with a 6.45. On the women’s side, sophomore Christal Green recorded a 7.28 to post the win. Freshman Gabrielle Gray added another top-3 to the Gamecock’s day, taking the third spot recording a 7.33.

Later in the day, Radford recorded her second personal best, this time in the shot put. Radford launched for 52-02.50 (15.91m) to earn her second win of the day. Sophomore Kaysee Sullivan completed a 1-2 finish for the Gamecocks in the event.

Junior Petra Olsen won the women’s pole vault with a 3.90m to lead a pack of four Gamecocks. Olsen was followed by juniors Tylar Mangan and Kelly Fischer and sophomore Ashley Cady. Freshman Austin Eckenroth was victorious in his first collegiate meet, clearing 4.90m. Colin Buxton finished behind him at 4.40m, tying a collegiate best.

The Gamecocks will travel to Birmingham, Ala., next weekend for the Auburn Invitational at the CrossPlex Indoor Track & Field Center.