Keith Hinnant

Quarter-mile specialist with unwavering work ethic and the endurance of a half miler … with his ability to run both the 400 and the 800, including the 4x400m relay, Hinnant serves as one of the foundations of South Carolina[apos]s long-sprint program.

2006: Made an impact nationally in the 400m during the indoor season … ran a 48.46 at the Virigina Tech Invitational followed by a 48.37 run at the Gator Invitational … the New Balance Armory Collegiate Invitational was the beginning of his national rankings with a time of 47.06 for a third-place finish … still in form, ran a 47.56 at the Tyson Invitational followed by a run of 47.13 at the SEC Indoor Championships for a second-place finish behind only Xavier Carter of LSU … with hopes of qualifying for nationals, ran a 46.76 at the Iowa State Last Chance Meet … during the outdoor season, picked up were he left off breaking the tape in 46.78 at the Walt Disney Invitational … at the Florida Relays, ran a 46.94 for a second-place finish … won the Murray Neely Invitational with a 46.69 … the SEC Outdoor Championships saw a 47.54 one-lap run … after qualifying for regionals, ran a 46.80 at the East Regional Championships for a 10th-place finish to go along with a strong pop-off leg on the championship 4x400m relay team.

2005: Focused on the 400-meters during both the indoor and outdoor seasons … best mark during the indoors was a 47.35 at the Tyson Invitational in Arkansas … finished 23rd at the SEC Indoor Championships with a clocking of 47.93 … won the Georgia Tech Invitational 400-meters with a season-best time of 46.60 to open the outdoor year … ran under 47 seconds in four of six races … placed 11th at the SEC Outdoor Championships with a time of 46.71 … placed ninth at the NCAA East Regional meet with a time of 47.02.

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Bay Shore High School in New York in 2004 … lettered four times in both track and field and basketball … coached by Rich Degnan and Jim McGlynn … was a 2004 high school All-American by USA Today … member of the 2004 World Junior team that went to Italy … placed seventh in the 400-meters at the World Juniors with a time of 46.54 … named the Long Island Male Runner of the Year, the Suffolk County track MVP in 2003 and 2004, and was a three-time Bay Shore track MVP.

PERSONAL: Keith Hinnant was born June 25, 1986, in Bay Shore, N.Y. … mother is Loretta Young and sister is NaKeshia Hinnant … pursuing a sociology degree … favorites include the movie ‘All About the Benjamins’ and the ‘Dave Chapelle Show’ … chose USC over Tennessee, Oklahoma and Georgia.