Gamecocks Win Four on Final Day of Hilton Garden Invitational

Feb. 1, 2014

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – South Carolina collected four wins on the final day of competition of the Hilton Garden Invitational at the JDL Fast Track. Junior Kendall Kee earned the 60-meter dash win, sophomore Dondre Echols won the 60-meter hurdles, sophomore Tyler Brockington bested the field in the 200-meter dash and the women’s 4×400-meter relay claimed first place.

Kee and junior Eric Winfrey prevailed in a field of unattached athletes in the 60-meter dash. Kee won his second-straight win at the distance, crossing first at 6.73. The Gamecock posted the fifth-fastest time in school history last weekend (6.68) in his 2014 debut and has turned in the top 60-meter dash time in all five rounds he has entered this season. Winfrey crossed the line in step with his teammate in the finals, but was just beat out by Kee. Winfrey’s 6.73 is a new PR and is the 10th fastest time in school history.

After advancing out of yesterday’s preliminaries, Echols and freshman Jussi Kanervo finished 1-3 in the 60-meter hurdles in both the semifinals and the finals today. Echols nearly matched his season-best of 7.86 with a time of 7.87 in the finals. It is his first 60-meter hurdle win of the season after taking third place the last two weekends.

Brockington claimed the first 200-meter dash win of her collegiate career, earning a close victory in the seeded section of the event. Brockington clocked in at 24.49.

In the final event of the day, the women’s 4×400-meter relay team of junior Ahtyana Johnson with freshman Precious Holmes, junior Tamera Harris and freshman Leveshia McClain won with a time of 3:45.23. Another squad of senior Vashti Bandy, Brockington along with freshmen Briana Haith and Mollie Williams took third (3:50.04).

Earlier in the afternoon, Johnson continued her strong start, nearly matching her 60-meter dash PR of 7.44 set in her 2014 debut last weekend. Johnson earned second place in today’s finals, crossing the line at 7.45. Bandy took fifth place in the race, matching her season best of 7.56.

On her final leap of the day, sophomore Alexis Murphy earned second place in the women’s long jump. Murphy recorded a mark of 19’1″ ¼ (5.82m), her second best jump of the season.

Freshman Alexandre Asselin completed the first heptathlon of his collegiate career on Saturday. Asselin entered the day with a lead after four events and ultimately took third place with a total of 4,668 points. The freshman was hindered by the pole vault after not recording a clearance. Asselin won the six other events in the competition, posting a collegiate or personal best in five of seven events.

A full contingent of Gamecocks will make the trip to New York City for the prestigious Armory Collegiate Invitational next weekend.