S.C. State track teams return to action today

Both South Carolina State track and field teams return to action March 19 at the three-day Coastal Carolina-Shamrock Invitational at Myrtle Beach. The S.C. State men and women captured first place Saturday (Mar. 14) at the 38th running of the Robert “Jet” Johnson Bulldog Relays at the Lorry H. Dawkins Track Facility, where several facility records fell and one school record was established.

Thirteen teams and two track clubs participated in the event, which was re-named in memory of former S.C. State cross country and track and field coach Robert “Jet” Johnson, who won a combined 26 conference championships and a national title during an 18-year tenure at the school. Johnson died in 1994.

Ten S.C. State seniors — eight on the women’s squad and two on the men’s team — making their last home appearance, were recognized and saluted for their contributions to the school’s track programs.

Seniors honored were Natalee Allen, Kristi Foster, Elizabeth Govrik, Lauren Lawson, Renee Williams, Shari Sampson, Mironda Scott, Tempest Vance, Jahwaun Blair and Kenneth Rackins. Minnie Johnson, the widow of Robert “Jet” Johnson was recognized for her husband’s achievements and her support of the track program.

In the women’s division, S.C. State amassed 177 points to take first place. Georgia Southern was second with 111 points, followed by Georgia State with 100. Rounding out the top five were Benedict with 47 points and The Citadel with 39.

The S.C. State men earned 143 points to outdistance runner-up Fort Valley State with 87.5 points. In third place was The Citadel with 85, followed by Benedict with 76 and Claflin with 69.5.

A facility record was set in six events, four in the women’s competition and two in the men’s division, and one school record was established at the event.

The Lady Bulldog 4x100 meter shuttle hurdle relay team (Monique Gracia, Renee Williams, Tempest Vance and Brandi Jefferson) took first with a time of 52.69, establishing a facility and school record in the event.

S.C. State’s Jasmine Smith had a personal best leap of 12.52m in the triple jump, erasing a 24-year old facility record set by Florida A&M’s Vogel Newsome and earning an NCAA provisional qualifying, while Tamika Kinchen of Georgia State erased a 24-year old facility record in the 1500 meters with a time of 4:48.21 (previous record 4:48.80 by Alabama State’s Serene Mitchell), and also set a new mark in the 5000 meters by covering the course in a time of 18:49.78.

The S.C. State 4x110 meter shuttle hurdle relay team (Donta Young, Leighton Brown, DeAngelo Bolden and Marvin Williams) set a new facility mark in the event with a time of 1:06.32.

Young also won two other events, taking first in the 110 meter hurdles (14.85) and 400 meter hurdles (55.02).

The Lady Bulldogs’ Shamire Rothmiller was named the Most Outstanding Female Athlete after winning the shot (13.15m), finishing second in the javelin (35.94) and placing fourth in the discus (33.60m) to earn a total of 23 points.

Georgia State’s Kinchen was the Most Outstanding Female Track Athlete after her record-setting performances in the 1500 and 5000 which earned her 20 points.

S.C. State’s Young, with two firsts and a part of one winning relay team, piled up 22.5 points and was the Most Outstanding Male Track Athlete, while James Lemons, unattached, earned the Most Outstanding Male Field Athlete honor after setting a facility record in the triple jump with a leap of 15.58 meters, erasing the 23-year old mark of 15.52 meters set by Morehouse’s Vincent Cobb.

S.C. State second-year head coach Tyree Price, praised the effort of his teams.

“I’m extremely proud of the showing of our athletes,” Price said. “We are filled with youth on both teams, but we are making strides toward some of the goals and challenges we set for ourselves early last semester.”

Other high finishes for the S.C. State men included: Kenneth Rackins, 1st place, 400m 48.88; Marvin Williams, 2nd place, 400H 55.49; DeAngelo Bolden, 3rd place, 400H 56.36; Levar Knight, 2nd place, Long Jump 6.82m; Marcus Stephens, 3rd place, Triple Jump 13.65m; Noel Facey, 1st place, Shot Put 14.40m and 2nd place, Discus Throw 43.59m; Brian Coleman, 2nd place, finish Shot Put 13.91m; 4x100m A-team (Rackins, Stephens, Chris Ward, Darin Washington), 2nd place, 41.67; 4x200m (Rackins, Washington, Stephens, Williams), 1st place, 1:27.70. High finishers for the S.C. State women included: Nicole Mobley, 1st place, 100m 12.19; Natalee Allen, 3rd place, 400m 57.98; Brittney Stewart, 2nd place, 5000m 18:52.10 and 3rd place, 1500m 4:58.28; Monique Gracia, 2nd place, 100H 14.15; Renee McWilliams, 3rd place, 100H 14.38; Tempest Vance, 1st place, 400H 1:01.82; Elizabeth Govrik, 2nd place, 400H 1:04.30; Jasmine Smith, 3rd place, Long Jump 5.35m;Shamire Rothmiller, 1st place, Shot Put 13.15m and 2nd place Javelin Throw 35.94m; 4x100m A-team (Mobley, Vance, Govrik, McWilliams), 2nd place, 46.72; 4x100m B-team (Shari Sampson, Mironda Scott, Allen, Gracia), 3rd place, 47.94; 4x200m, 2nd place, 1:41.21; 4x400m A-team (Vance, Govrik, Sampson, Allen), 1st place, 3:56.00; 4x800m (Lauren Lawson, Stewart, Patrecia Daniley, Amber Williams), 3rd place, 10:04.56.

Varsity Baseball

Orangeburg-Wilkinson 15, W.J. Keenan 12

COLUMBIA – Emmanuel Mitchell was the winning pitcher for the Bruins with 11 strikeouts in six innings.

Mitchell also contributed with a 4-for-5 night at the plate. Marvin Howell gave the Bruins a lift offensively going 2-for-4 with a home run, a grand slam and five RBIs. Kyle Kitchings was also 2-for-4 and had a run batted in.

O-W will be in action against Aiken at home on Friday at 7 p.m.

Varsity Soccer

Bamberg-Ehrhardt 1, Swansea 1 (B-E wins 3-2 in PK)

BAMBERG – Trey Mintz was the lone scorer for B-E in regulation. Richard Threatt contributed with an assist.

The Red Raiders (5-1) will compete in Sumter at the Lakewood Gator Tournament against Crestwood at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Blackville-Hilda 2, Branchville 1

BLACKVILLE -- Timothy Prince put Branchville up 1-0 with an early goal and the Yellow Jackets led for the first 30 minutes of the game.

But, Blackville-Hilda tied it just before the half and took the lead late in the fourth to hand the Yellow Jackets (1-1) their first loss.

Brancvhille will host Fox Creek Friday at 6 p.m.

Varsity Track & Field

Indians Take Top Honors in Home Meet

The Lady Indians finished first against seven other teams in their first home meet of the season. The OPS boys’ team topped an 11-team field to sweep the meet. Below are the results:

GIRLS

100 Hurdles - 1, Maleah Gleaton, 19.47

200 - 2, Sallie Covington, 28.45

400 - 5, Margaret Fender, 1:08.88

4x100 - 1, OPS (Jordyn Tourville, Maggie Hughes, Maleah Gleaton, Sarah Parker), 57.6

4x400 - 1, OPS (Jessica Swift, Margaret Fender, Sarah Margaret Boles, Sarah Parker), 5:31

Discus - 3, Ryn Yongue, 70-4; 4, Grayson Goodwin 68-6

Shot Put - 2, Ryn Yongue, 25-6; 4. Grayson Goodwin, 23-10

Long Jump - 1, Sallie Convington, 15-1

Triple Jump - 1, Sallie Convington, 31-10; 4, Erin Buie, 23

High Jump - 1, Laura Irick, 4-5; 2, Erin Buie, 3-11

BOYS

100 - 5, A.J. Andrews, 11.84

110 Hurdles - 1, Duncan Rhoad, 16.78

200 - 1, Trent Barrack, 24.12

400 - 1, Trent Barrack, 55.12

400 hurdles - 1, Duncan Rhoad, 1:08

800 - 2, Bo Fender, 2:22

4x400 - 1, OPS (Duncan Rhoad, William Brant, Phillip Buie, Trent Barrack), 4:00

High Jump - 2, A.J. Andrews, 6-0

Long Jump - 1, A.J. Andrews 19-11

Triple Jump - 1, A.J. Andrews, 38-2

OPS will host a JV Track Meet on Tuesday. The varsity teams will travel to Wilson Hall for a track meet on Wednesday.

JV Softball

Bowman Academy 9, Clarendon Hall 6

SUMMERTON – Sydney Jones (2-2) was the winning pitcher for the Lady Bulldogs with six strikeouts in seven innings of work.

Jones also went 2-for-4 at the plate. Jerica Williams was 2-for-3 for Bowman Academy with two singles and a run scored. Charlie Smith was 1-for-2 with three runs scored.

Bowman Academy (2-2) will host Patrick Henry today at 4 p.m.

AAU Basketball Interest Meeting

There will be an interest meeting on March 23 at 6 p.m. at Bethune-Bowman High gym for children interested in playing AAU basketball for the Ruff Ryder Hoop Stars. Boys must be between the ages of 9 and 13. Girls must be between the ages of 10 and 17. For more information, call Ron Hook (803) 536-4621.

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