ORANGEBURG, SC – The South Carolina State track and field teams, which have been without a championship since 2002, have demonstrated strength in both the running and field events this year in the two outdoor meets Coach Tyree Price's team have participated in. And with three events left before the May 6-8 MEAC Championship in Greensboro, SC State has qualified a combined 21 athletes -- 11 women and 10 men -- for the competition, with several qualifying in multiple events.
In their latest meet (Mar. 18-20) -- the Coastal Carolina Shamrock Invitational at Myrtle Beach -- the SC State women placed in the top six in 10 events and finished first in two and had 11 new MEAC qualifying performances and four improvements in performances.
Also nine student-athletes ranked in the top 50 in the nation and 11 were listed in the top 45 in the Region. The top 24 relays from each Region and the top 48 individuals from each region go the Regional Championships held in Greensboro, NC for a shot at going to the NCAA National Championship.
Arnetra Frazier placed 4th in the 100m with a personal record time of 11.73. Nicole Mobley (11.81), Yazmin Hicks (11.92), and Erica Peake (12.10) also participated in the two heat finals. Monique Gracia, who had the fastest time in the 100H(13.84) also made it to the finals of the 100m (12.08), but did not compete due to injury. In the 200m, Peake placed 4th with a time of 24.56 followed by Alexandria Jones (24.65), Frazier (24.84), and Mobley (24.88).
The field events proved strong as well with Shamire Rothmiller taking first place in the shot put with a toss of 14.51m). Senior, Jasmine Smith placed 1st in the triple jump with a leap of 12.52m. Tamala Daley placed 7th in the heptathlon (4023pts), 6th in the triple jump (11.80m), and 5th in the long jump (5.55m), and Peake placed 7th in the long jump with a leap of 5.50m. Jones placed 4th in the 400m with a time of 55.57. Brittney Stewart placed 6th in the 5000m (18:37.67) and came away with a personal record in the 800m with a time of 2:16.24. Patrecia Daniley had a person record in the 1500m with a time of 4:58.86. The 4x100m relay team of Mobley, Frazier, Jones, and Peake came away with a 2nd place finish with a time of 45.35, while the 4x400m relay team comprised of Peake, Stewart, Jones, and Mobley finished 7th with a time of 3:51.64. The 4x200m relay comprised of Mobley, Peake, Jones, and Hicks placed 2nd with a time of 1:37.37.
Stewart moved to #4 in the school record book in the 800m (2:16.24). The women's 4x100m moved to #4 in the school record book (45.35). The women's 4x200m moved to #2 all-time at the university. Eileena Fowler improved on her #3 placing in record book with a toss of 34.56m in the discus. Daley moved to #1 in the record book in the heptathlon (4023pts), while Brandi Jefferson moved to #2 in the event (3670).
Currently Frazier is ranked #5 in the nation and region in the100m. Mobley is ranked #12 in the nation/#11 in the region in the same event, while Yazmin Hicks is #30 nationally and #24 in the region the 100m.Also, Monique Gracia is ranked #40 in the nation/#32 in the region (100m)/#15 in the ration/#9 in the Region (100H). Alexandria Jones is ranked #23 in the Nation/#13 in the Region (400m). Jasmine Smith is ranked #7 in the nation/#2 in the region (triple jump). Shamire Rothmiller is ranked #19 in the nation/#12 in the region (Shot Put). Brandi Jefferson is ranked #27 in the nation/#15 in the region (heptathlon). Daley is ranked #31 in the nation/#19 in the region (long jump)/#21 in the nation/#12 in the region (triple jump)/#15 in the nation/#5 in the region (heptathlon). Peake is ranked #42 in the region (100m)/#44 in the region (long jump). The 4x100m is ranked #9 in the nation/#4 in the region. The 4x400m is ranked #48 in the nation/#25 in the region.
The men, meanwhile, had eight top six finishes, including two runner-ups, and the Bulldogs had 11 new MEAC Qualifying Performances and five improvements of qualifying marks. In addition six student-athletes ranked in the top 50 in the Nation and seven were listed in the top 45 in the Region.
Aubrey Lemon placed 2nd in the 100m with a personal best of 10.54 followed by Marcus Stephens' 3rd place finish with a time of 10.56. Zachery Hasty finished 6th in the finals of the 100m with a time of 10.73. Lemon came back to finish 7th in the 200m with a time of 21.58. Christopher Ward placed 7th in the 400m with a time of 48.40. Quinton Green had a person record in the 1500m with a time of 4:14.25. Charles Kurgatt had a personal record in the 5000m with a time of 15:59.45. Stephens place 3rd in the Triple Jump with a leap of 15.07m and placed 4th in the Long Jump with a leap of 7.09m, followed by Levar Knights 6th place showing (7.06m). The 4x100m relay consisting of Ward, Stephens, Lemon, and Hasty placed 2nd with a time of 40.88, while the 4x200m relay team comprised of Lemon, Ward, Stephens, and Hasty placed 6th with a time 1:26.99.
Kurgatt moved to #2 in the record book in the 5000m (15:59.45). Marcus Stephens moved to #3 all-time in the triple jump (15.07m) and ahead of current Head Coach, Tyree Price. The men's 4x200m moved to #2 all-time (1:26.99).
Currently Lemon is ranked #12 in the nation/#10 in the region (100m). Stephens is ranked #14 in the nation/#11 in the region (100m)/#30 in the nation/#20 in the region (long jump)/#6 in the nation/#4 in the region (Triple Jump). Hasty is ranked #43 in the nation/#27 in the region (100m)/#43 in the region (Long Jump). Christopher Ward is ranked #40 in the nation/#22 in the region (400m). Marvin Williams is ranked #60 in the nation/#21 in the region (400H). Knight is ranked #35 in the nation/#21 in the region (long jump)/#37 in the Region (high jump). Leighton Brown is ranked #28 in the nation/#14 in the region (Decathlon). The 4x100m is ranked #10 in the nation/#8 in the region.
The SC State men captured the MEAC Indoor Track title in 2002, marking the last league championship for the school.
The teams resume their schedules Mar. 27 at the Weems Baskin Relays at the University of South Carolina, then head to Gainesville, Fla. Apr. 2-3, before hosting the Robert “Jet” Johnson Relays Apr. 10.
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