April 3, 2015

GAINESVILLE, FLA. – The South Carolina track and field team started out the Florida Relays on a high note Friday, setting new season bests in 12 different events between the men and the women. Jeannelle Scheper was the highlight again, improving on her nation’s-best mark in the high jump to win the high jump invite.

By passing a mark of 1.95 meters (6-4.75) on her first attempt, Scheper added an inch and a half to her collegiate record, which she had matched in the outdoor opening weekend at the Shamrock Invite. Friday’s mark also set a new lifetime best, which previously had been 1.92 meters at the 2013 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championships.

The men’s hurdlers also set some important marks on Friday, starting with Dondre Echols. The junior ran the sixth-fastest 110-meter hurdles time in program history, finishing in 13.60. It is the fastest time by any Gamecock in the event since 2010 and was good for eighth overall and second among collegiate competitors. In the 400-meter hurdles, Jussi Kanervo set a new personal record, running a 50.22. That time is also the best since 2010 and put him in seventh, second among collegiate competitors. Gamecock legend Johnny Dutch would win the event.

In the field events, Clarence Gallop continues to heat up, setting another personal record in the hammer throw after a toss of 210 feet, six inches. After adding seven feet to last weekend’s meet to enter the program’s all-time top ten, Gallop now climbs to sixth on the list.

Overall, the men set new season-best times in seven of the eight events on Friday, and the women five.

Alexis Murphy had the women’s team’s other top-three finish of the day, taking third in the long jump. She added five inches to previous season high. In the track events, Hannah Giangaspro ran a 17:33.56 time in the 5000-meter. It shaved more than ten seconds off her season best, and meets the qualifying standard for the USATF Junior Nationals, held later this summer.

The meet resumes for its final day tomorrow morning, with field events beginning at 10 a.m. The SEC Network + broadcast of the day’s events will begin at 2:15 p.m.