Feb. 26, 2015
LEXINGTON, KY. – The indoor season will come to an exciting conclusion Friday, with the first of two days of competition featuring the nation’s top athletes. The University of Kentucky will host the SEC Championships at its Nutter Field House. The South Carolina men will be one of eight nationally ranked SEC schools competing at the championships, and eight women’s teams are also ranked entering the weekend.
Fans can follow along with the action in Lexington, which starts Friday at 10 a.m. Live results will be available through clicking on this link. The championships will also be streamed live on SEC Network + during the following times: Friday, February 27 (3:50-9 p.m.) and Saturday, February 28 (1:50-6:30 p.m.). The meet will also air as part of a 90-minute show on ESPNU on Monday, March 9 beginning at 7:30 p.m., all times eastern.
Last weekend, in its final tune-up of the regular season, the Gamecocks split up for a trio of meets. Four competed at the Virginia Tech Challenge, one went to the Arkansas Open, and many others competed at home with the Gamecock Invitational. Out at Arkansas, Ncincilili Titi set a new season-best time in the 200m, running the fourth-fastest time in program history (20.87).
At home, Carolina won 12 events and set two new facility records in its final home meet of the year. Nakita Gray’s high jump of 1.82 meters (5′ 11.5″) was a highlight, as she improved on her personal best with the second-highest jump in program history.
The Gamecock women finished 12th overall last season at the meet, led in large part to silver-medal performances from the women’s 4x400m relay team and high jumper Jeannelle Scheper. In the team’s 23 seasons in the SEC, its best finish was second place overall in 2003, and it has five top-three finishes.
The men’s team also finished 12th last season, with the 60m hurdlers providing much of the scoring. Jermaine Collier finished fourth overall and Jussi Kanervo placed fifth in the event. In the team’s 23 seasons in the SEC, its best finish was second overall in the 1999 championships, and overall it has a pair of top-three finishes.
Entering the weekend, six Carolina athletes are ranked in the top five of the SEC in five different events. The men’s hurdlers are again expected to score big for the team, with all four athletes (Dondre Echols, Jermaine Collier, Jussi Kanervo, Isaiah Moore) ranked in the top-eight of the conference.
Serving as captains this weekend will be Clayton Gravesande and Sarah Graham. Clayton is a redshirt senior from Somerset, N.J. who will be competing in the 400 and the 4×400 relay. Graham is a junior from Wake Forest, N.C. and will compete in the pentathlon and high jump.
For Carolina fans hoping to attend, tickets will be on sale at the main entrance of field house. Single-session tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for youth (ages 3-18) and seniors (65 and older) and free for children ages 2 and under.
For updates throughout the weekend, follow the Gamecocks on Twitter with @GamecockTrack.
