March 29, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – After earning one win through four events on a rain-shortened first day at the 21st annual Weems Baskin Invitational, South Carolina came out strong on the final day, earning 18 wins today. Seven of the wins at Weems Baskin Track were claimed as a result of new personal records.
Competing for the first time during 2014 outdoor season, Petra Olsen broke her own school record in the pole vault by four-and-a-half inches. The senior cleared a height of 13-11¾ (4.26m) on her first attempt after also clearing the previous height on her first attempt.
Senior Chris Royster and redshirt sophomore Ahtyana Johnson each swept the 100 and 200 meters as they led the Gamecocks with two wins along with freshman Jussi Kanervo who swept the men’s hurdle events.
After racing to a first-place finish in the 100 meters with a time of 10.30, Royster stole the show in the 200 meters as he clocked a new personal-best time of 20.84 into a head wind as he clipped Calesio Newman by 0.12 seconds. A year ago, Newman ranked No. 12 in the event in the U.S. and was No. 38 in the world.
Johnson performed the same double on the women’s side as she recorded times of 11.63 (100m) and 23.73 (200m). Right behind her though in both races was senior teammate Vashti Bandy at 11.84 and 23.77.
Freshman Briana Haith won South Carolina’s third sprint of the day as she claimed first in the 400 meters at 55.91. Sophomore Tyler Brockington also won the 400 hurdles in a time of 1:03.88.
Kanervo has continued to progress early in the season as he set a pair of personal bests in the hurdles. The freshman ran away with the win in the 110m hurdles at 13.77, more than three tenths of a second ahead of sophomore teammate Dondre Echols. In the 400 hurdles, he was nearly a second in front of sophomore teammate Jermaine Collier, finishing at 51.10 as the Gamecocks went 1-2-3 with Echols taking third.
Wins continued into the mid-distance events as Carolina won three of four. Senior Drew Ricci set a new personal record in the men’s 800 meters at 1:50.61, while sophomore Alex Sullivan won the men’s 1,500 meters at 4:01.40. Sophomore Anna Todd won the women’s 800 with a time of 2:12.23.
In the field, redshirt junior Kaysee Sullivan and freshman Natasha Dicks each broke their pervious personal best marks. Already ranking sixth in school history in the triple jump, Dicks increased her mark by six inches as she landed at a distance of 41-9 ¾ (12.74m). For Sullivan, the redshirt junior moved into the top school Top 10 in the discus at No. 9 with a throw of 157-7 (48.03m).
Sophomore Austin Eckenroth added a win in the field for the men’s team as he claimed first in the pole vault at 15-1 (4.60m). The event was held indoors due to threat of inclement weather.
The Gamecocks won three of four relays as the men’s team won both races, finishing in 40.05 in the 4×100 and 3:13.67 in the 4×400. The women’s team won the 4×100 with a time of 44.91 and took second in the 4×400 at 3:56.82.
Next weekend, the Gamecocks travel to Florida Relays at the University of Florida’s Percy Beard Track.
MEN – SATURDAY – MARCH 29 – WEEMS BASKIN INVITAITONAL
Men’s 100m Dash
1. Chris Royster 10.30 (+0.8)
5. Brandon Sanders 10.92 (+0.8)
Men’s 200m Dash
1. Chris Royster 20.84 (-1.6)
3. Eric Winfrey 21.23 (-1.6)
5. Chris Walker 21.43 (-1.6)
Men’s 400m Dash
4. Eric Winfrey 47.73
20. Kendall Kee 51.21
Men’s 800m Dash
1. Drew Ricci 1:50.61
5. Kevin Keating 1:56.63
6. Nigel Redic 1:56.84
8. Daniel Novak 1:59.07
10. David Yang 1:59.56
11. Alex Sullivan 1:59.95
Men’s 1,500m Run
1. Alex Sullivan 4:01.40
3. Daniel Novak 4:08.35
5. Miles Laubinger 4:11.26
Men’s 5,000m Run
2. Sango Asante 15:50.17
5. Guy McCarter 16:01.83
7. Greg Lowing 16:21.86
Men’s 110m Hurdles
1. Jussi Kanervo 13.77 (+2.3)
2. Dondre Echols 14.12 (+2.8)
4. Jermaine Collier 14.42 (+2.3)
Men’s 400m Hurdles
1. Jussi Kanervo 51.10
2. Jermaine Collier 52.02
3. Dondre Echols 52.82
Men’s 4x100m Relay
1. South Carolina A 40.05
7. South Carolina B 45.24
Men’s 4x400m Relay
1. South Carolina A 3:13.67
5. South Carolina B 3:20.60
Men’s Long Jump
7. Joshua Jones 21-4.75 // 6.52m (+2.1)
7. James Adams 21-4.75 // 6.52m (+1.9)
Men’s Triple Jump
6. James Adams 43-3.75 // 13.20m (+3.3)
Men’s High Jump
9. Jesse Wideman 6-0.75 // 1.85m
Men’s Pole Vault
1. Austin Eckenroth 15-1 // 4.60m
2. Richard Fish 14-7.25 // 4.45m
Men’s Discus
6. Walker Selby 142-6 // 43.44m
7. Andrew Seay 135-11 // 41.43m
WOMEN – SATURDAY – MARCH 29 – WEEMS BASKIN INVITAITONAL
Women’s 100m Dash
1. Ahtyana Johnson 11.63 (+0.0)
2. Vashti Bandy 11.84 (+0.0)
Women’s 200m Dash
1. Ahtyana Johnson 23.73 (-0.9)
2. Vashti Bandy 23.97 (0.9)
3. Kierrie Beckles 24.03 (-0.9)
Women’s 400m Dash
1. Briana Haith 55.91
2. Maya Evans 56.70
4. Aalayah Faulcon 57.86
5. Leveshia McClain 58.22
Women’s 800m Run
1. Anna Todd 2:12.23
3. Ashley Miller 2:18.80
4. Kaleigh Higgins 2:20.86
7. Martha McCoy 2:24.65
Women’s 1,500m Run
3. Martha McCoy 4:47.57
4. Meri Heneage 4:52.12
7. Sarah Falta 5:00.60
11. Christine Kent 5:05.20
17. Haley Saxby 5:17.18
Women’s 5,000m Run
4. Brittany Day 19:13.49
5. Allie Whitley 19:25.94
6. Courtney Swink 19:31.21
Women’s 100m Hurdles
2. Chalese Davis 13.42 (+2.4)
4. Mollie Williams 13.91 (+1.7)
5. Tyler Brockington 14.05 (+2.4)
6. Sarah Graham 14.11 (+1.7)
9 Jemekia Wilson 14.80 (+1.6)
Women’s 400m Hurdles
1. Tyler Brockington 1:03.88
2. Mollie Williams 1:05.46
12. Leveshia McClain 1:21.10
Women’s 4x100m Relay
1. South Carolina A 44.91
2. South Carolina B 46.83
6. South Carolina C 54.00
Women’s 4x400m Relay
2. South Carolina A 3:56.82
5. South Carolina B 4:07.45
Women’s Long Jump
3. Sarah Graham 18-5.75 // 5.63m (+1.1)
12. Mykera Glymph-Dantzler 16-1 // 4.90m (+0.4)
– Natasha Dicks FOUL
Women’s Triple Jump
1. Natasha Dicks 41-9.75 // 12.74m (+2.7)
8. Mykera Glymph-Dantzler 36-4.75 // 11.09m (+1.6)
Women’s High Jump
3. Caroline Cann 4-11.50 // 1.51m
4. Jemekia Wilson 4-11.50 // 1.51m
Women’s Pole Vault
1. Petra Olsen 13-11.75 // 4.26m
2. Megan Wall 12-5.5 // 3.80m
3. Tyler Mangan 10-11.75 // 3.35m
Women’s Shot Put
3. Kaysee Sullivan 43-10 // 13.36m
7. Jemekia Wilson 36-9.50 // 11.21m
9. Sarah Graham 34-11.75 // 10.66m
Women’s Discus
1. Kaysee Sullivan 157-7 // 48.03m
