Jan. 26, 2013

Complete Results

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The South Carolina track and field program collected six more wins at the Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Va., to bring their weekend total to 10. The No. 20 Gamecock women were led by senior Breanna Radford who won her third shot put event in a row while setting her second PR in as many days and junior Jeannelle Scheper who took the high jump section. The South Carolina swept the 4×400-meter relays, earning victories on both the men’s and women’s side. Junior Chris Royster captured the 200-meter dash and senior Jarrod Hutchen won the men’s long jump. In total, the Gamecocks had 21 top-five finishers on Saturday.

Radford’s 52’3 ¾ (15.94m) and redshirt sophomore Kaysee Sullivan’s mark of 46’3 ¼ (14.10m) gave Radford her third straight shot put win and Sullivan a fourth place finish. Both of the marks are new PR’s in the shot put after they each set new PRs in the weight throw last night. Radford moves into a tie for fifth in the South Carolina record books, matching India Odum’s mark from 2004. It also moves her to 23th in the collegiate ranks.

After setting a new school record at 6’2 (1.88m) last weekend in Birmingham, Scheper cleared 6’0 (1.83m) to win the women’s high jump.

Hutchen won the men’s long jump with a mark of 25’2 (7.67m). Redshirt sophomore Josh Jones joined him in the top 5 with a jump of 21’6 ¼ (6.56m) to take fifth in the section.

In 200-meter action, Royster won the men’s group with a time of 21.86. Senior Andre Carter finished fourth in the event with a 21.96. Sophomore Chris Walker was the third Gamecock in the top 10 with a time of 22.35.

To end the day, the Gamecocks swept the 4×400-meter relays. Sophomore Erika Rucker, sophomore Christal Green, senior Kierre Beckles and senior Nadonnia Rodriques ran a speedy 3:37.70, besting last weekend’s time of 3:43.20, to claim the victory. The time ranks them fourth in the collegiate ranks. The second South Carolina squad in the race featured Amber Allen, Tamera Harris, Vashti Bandy and Tyler Brockington. The foursome finished third in the race, crossing the line at a time of 3:47.13.

The quartet of junior Clayton Gravesande, Carter, sophomore Damiere Byrd and freshman Jermaine Collier improved their time from last weekend, running a 3:10.97 for the win. The time is ranked eighth in the NCAA this season. The South Carolina `B’ squad of sophomore Eric Winfrey, Royster, freshman Dondre Echols and freshman Brandon Sanders ran a 3:17.40.

Freshman Mary Fouse and junior Penny Boswell added two top-5 finishes, claiming second and fifth, respectively, in the women’s 5,000-meters to start the day for the Gamecocks. Fouse ran a time of 17:41.21 and Boswell turned in a time of 18:27.97.

In the women’s 400-meters, Rodriques ran a season best 54.87 to finish fourth. Rodriques’ time ranks her 18th nationally, joining her teammate Rucker in the top 25. Green took sixth at 56.23 and junior Amber Allen claimed seventh with a season best 56.61. For the men, Eric Winfrey was the top finisher for the Gamecocks, taking third place with a time of 48.89.

Rucker ran the 800-meters for the first time this season, turning in a time of 2:11.93. Freshman Anna Todd bested her previous 800-meter time of 2:25.99 with a 2:13.46 to finish fifth. Todd’s classmate Lisa Zimmer was right behind her, finishing sixth at 2:13.82. Sophomore Daniel Novak was the top men’s 800-meter finisher. Novak ran a season best 1:57.38 to take sixth. Freshman Drew Galang also ran a season best, turning in a 1:58.26 to take seventh. Gaither took eighth at 1:58.58.

Freshman Alexis Murphy and junior Vashti Bandy went 5-6 in the women’s 200-meters. Murphy ran a 24.84 and Bandy finished at a season best 24.97.

Junior Petra Olsen claimed second in the pole vault with a clearance of 13′ ¾ (3.98m). Sophomore Megan Wall set a new personal best with a mark of 12′ ¾ (3.68m) to take eighth place. Freshman Austin Eckenroth placed fourth in the men’s pole vault with a new personal best of his own, clearing 16’1 ¼ (4.91m).

In the women’s high jump, senior Ceci Kryst (17’11 ½ // 5.47m) and sophomore Chalese Davis (17’5 ¼ // 5.31m) finished 10th and 13th, respectively.

The men’s distance medley team of sophomores Isaiah Hilton, Paris Smalls, Thomas Gaither and redshirt senior Robert Razick turned in a second place finish with a time of 10:19.50.

Next week, the Gamecocks trek to New York City for the 2013 Armory Collegiate Invitational. Now 12 years old, the Armory Collegiate Invitational is a marquee event in college indoor season, with powerhouse programs from around the nation making the trip. The two-day event begins on Fri., Feb 1, at 9:30 a.m.