Feb. 8, 2013

Freshman Kayla Lampe set a new 5K school record for the second straight week while junior Petra Olsen and senior Robert Razick bettered their standings in the Gamecock record book. The Gamecocks are competing at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., the Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson, S.C., and the Husky Classic in Seattle, Wash.

Husky Classic
A week after running 16:39.15, freshman Kayla Lampe turned in a time of 16:32.48 in Seattle, Wash., to set a new school record for the second week in a row. Before Lampe set a new standard last weekend at the Armory Collegiate Open, the record had stood since 1992. Lampe captured 14th in a field of 82 runners at the Husky Classic.

Tomorrow, Chelsea France will compete in the 3,000-meters for the Gamecocks.

Tyson Invitational
More than 40 colleges and universities competing in Fayetteville this weekend, including 18 ranked teams (seven men, 11 women) and eight 2012 NCAA champions.

Redshirt senior Robert Razick finished 11th in the mile run at Tyson, setting a new PR with a time of 4:08.68. The time bested his previous mark of 4:12.08 and moves into third in Gamecock history. He is just off the school record of 4:08.03 set by Tim Colas in 1982.

Junior Petra Olsen also made a jump in the Gamecock record book. Already holding the third spot, Olsen cleared 13’10 ½ (4.23m) to break her old PR of 4.15m. The mark moves Olsen into the second spot and just off the record of 13’11 ¾.

In the men’s 60-meter dash, sophomores Kendall Kee and Damiere Byrd along with junior Chris Royster advanced from the prelims to the semis. Kee ran a 6.78, earning his ticket by winning his heat. Byrd ran a 6.73, as one of the fastest times in the heats. Royster was the last man in the semis with a time of 6.84. In the next round, Byrd placed 14th (6.75), Kee 16th (6.77) and Royster 20th (6.84). No Gamecocks went on to the finals.

For the women’s 60-meter, freshman Alexis Murphy was the top Gamecock performer, earning the last ticket to the semis with a time of 7.55. Junior Vashti Bandy and sophomore Ahtyana Johnson set new season best marks. Bandy ran a 7.61 and Johnson a 7.71 in the opening round.

Senior All-American Kierre Beckles was the number two qualifier in the 60-meter hurdles out of the preliminary round with a time of 8.25. Freshman Tyler Brockington set a new PR at 8.58, just missing out on a berth to the finals. Beckles advanced through the semis and onto the finals, taking third in the final round with a season-best 8.17.

Freshman Dondre Echols advanced to the 60-meter hurdles semifinals with a time of 8.03. In the next round, Echols dropped an 8.01, good enough for 10th place, but did not make the eight-man final.

In the 400-meter invitational group, sophomore Erika Rucker faced a loaded field with nine of the top 25 times of the season in the pool. Rucker, who stood at third in the nation entering the race, placed seventh with a 53.57. Junior Clayton Gravesande placed seventh in the men’s 400-meter invitational section with a 47.31.

In long jump action, sophomore Chalese Davis set a new personal record with a jump of 19’0 ¾ (5.81m) to capture eighth place. Senior Jarrod Hutchen took fourth in the men’s long jump with a 24’9 ¼ (7.55m). Hutchen’s

Tomorrow, the Gamecocks compete in the 200m, the relays, men’s pole vault, high jump and triple jump.

Tiger Paw Invitational
Freshmen Anna Todd and Lisa Zimmer set new personal bests in the women’s 800-meter early in the day at Clemson. Todd ran a time of 2:12.44 to take third place and Zimmer ran a 2:13.77. Todd’s time cracks the South Carolina indoor top-10 list, and currently sits in the 10th spot.

Senior Breanna Radford took fifth in the weight throw with a mark of 56’3 (17.14m) while redshirt sophomore Kaysee Sullivan placed 13th with a throw of 51’3 ¾ (15.64m). In the men’s weight throw, redshirt sophomores Andrew Seay and Walker Selby placed sixth and eighth, respectively. Seay threw 55’6 ½ (16.93m) and Selby’s mark was 54’1 (16.48m).

In the men’s long jump, redshirt sophomore James Adams and junior Josh Jones set new season bests. Adams recorded a leap of 22’8 (6.91m) for seventh place while Jones had a mark of 21’10 ¼ (6.66m) to take 14th.

Redshirt junior Tylar Mangan cleared a season-best 10’11 (3.33m) for eighth place in the women’s pole vault.

Tomorrow, the 60-meter dash and hurdles, 200-meters, 400-meters, 800-meters, the mile run, 3K and relays take place along with men’s pole vault, triple jump and shot put.