South Carolina Gamecocks Track and Field

It was a proud day for the South Carolina Gamecocks track and field team as Team USA cleaned up at the 4x100m for the first time since 1987 with one of USC's very own competing. Two other South Carolina track and field former members, Miki Barber, a NCAA champion, assisted the women’s team with the relay and Leroy Dixon was the anchor of Team USA’s win.


The event was quite exciting as Darvis Patton, the 2003 World Outdoor silver medalist, reached Wallace Spearmon only moments behind the Jamaican team. It was then that the Jamaican team member fumbled their pass-off while Patton and Spearmon made a smooth transition. Seeing an opening for the lead, Spearmon flew down the track towards Tyson Gay and reached his fellow team member in first place.


However, the win wasn’t secure just yet, as Spearmon barreled towards Gay before the handoff was even complete. It was difficult for Gay to shake off the clumsy handoff but by the time he reached former South Carolina Gamecock track and field athlete, Leroy Dixon, things seemed to have settled down.


However, Dixon was up against Asafa Powell, the world record holder on the Jamaican team. The former South Carolina Gamecock track and field team member was a success however and reached the finish line with a 37.78 time well ahead the other competitors.


The Gamecocks all thought that Gay should be running anchor for the competition but the coaches decided it should be the South Carolina Gamecock track and field men team’s own Dixon. It provided to be the right decision with the success of the team.


The former South Carolina Gamecocks track and field woman’s athlete, Miki Barber, was up against some tough competition during her stint in the Team USA 4x100 event. Barber assisted the team with achieving their second straight gold medal in the World Outdoor competition. The relay began with Lauryn William racing down the track to hand off the baton to gold medalist Allyson Felix with Jamaica hot on their tails.


By the time the baton reached South Carolina Gamecock athlete Miki Barber (2007 Pan Am Games gold medalist in the 200m) it was a dead heat between the two teams. It was Barber’s great speed combined with the safe passes of the other team members and sound, steady running that secured Team USA the win. It was definitely a proud day for the South Carolina Gamecock track and field teams.


In the final stretch Torri Edwards, a 100m and 200m 4th place finisher, managed to overcome Jamaica’s 100m gold medalist, Veronica Campbell, and cross the finish line with an impressive time of 41.98, only 0.03 seconds ahead of Jamaica.

Former South Carolina Gamecock track and field women’s team member Miki Barber stated that all she was trying to do was keep focus on maintaining the lead. Having been a third leg runner before, Barber had enough experience to keep a level head and move through the handoffs with ease.

Here's a good place to get your South Carolina Gamecocks Merchandise and Apparel.

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