Westside Boys Hurdle Relay Team Sets Record at NIC

Martez Brown (left), Dennis Martin (center), and Brandon Brown (right) made up three legs of the winning 4x55 shuttle hurdle team at NIC. Missing is Antione Fant and alternate Mauricus Brown.

The two-day Nike Indoor Championships concluded today in Landover, MD. The Westside (Anderson) boys 4x55 hurdle relay team of Brandon Brown, Dennis Martin, ,Martez Brown and Mauricus Brown set a new meet record of 29.45 Saturday. The previous record was 30.20, set in 2002 by Wayne High School of Huber Heights, OH.

Two female individuals led the way for South Carolina at the NIC from March 13-14. Amberly Nesbitt, a senior at J.L. Mann in Greenville placed second in the finals of the 60 meter dash wtih a final time of 7.46. Ashley R. Owens (Denver, CO) sealed the win over Nesbitt in 7.32. Nesbitt ran times of 7.46 and 7.51 in the semi-finals and preliminaries, respectively. Nesbitt also finished second in the semi-finals and preliminaries. Erica Adams, a senior at Spartanburg High placed second overall in the mile walk with a 7:19.21. Katy Hayes (Oconomowoc, WI) finished with a 7:00.94 to take the win over Adams.

Two time Footlocker Nationals qualifier Kate Niehaus missed the top three in the girls two mile event by 72-hundrenths of a second with a 10:45.08. Niehaus holds the cross-country state meet best of 17:36.81, set in 2003. Niehaus broke her old state meet best of 17:52.9 at the 2003 meet.

Northwestern senior Mitch Greeley rounded out the top three in the boys pole vault with a best height of 15'06.25. Greeley missed his three attempts at 16-04, but cleared each height prior to that on first attempts.

Westside girls rounded out the top five in the 4x55 shuttle relay in 35.21. Polly Hardy, Holly Hardy, Nyoka Norman, Kayla Perry and Brandi Myers made up the teams relay team.

Greeley had a season best of 15'8" giving him the 33rd spot in the nation.

Dorman senior Ryan Jank crossed the line in the 15th spot with a 9:37.32 two mile time. Dorman's Stephanie Buffo competed in the girls two mile with an 11:40 showing.

Westside's Brandon Brown led the way for South Carolina with a fifth place time of 8.08 in the boys 60-meter hurdle finals. Brown finished sixth in the semi-finals and ninth in the preliminaries. Teammate Dennis Martin missed the finals in the 60 hurdles by two spots after running an 8.10. Martin ran a 8.25 preliminary time.

Spring Valley's boys competed in the distance medley and 3200-meter relay events. The Vikings placed first in section one of the distance medley with a 10:39.23. The time was good for a eighth place overall spot. The 3200 relay team finished with a 8:06.34. Spring Valley sealed a win in the 3200 relay at the Eastern Challenge on Jan. 27. Both relay teams consisted of senior Brian Raymond, junior Robert Thompson, junior Reid Wilson, senior Darrian Hodges, and sophomore Mike Doucette. Spring Valley captured the 4A 3200-relay title at the State Track and Field Championships on May 10, 2003 with a time of 8:03.22.

The outdoor season resumes on March 20 with the Bruins Invitational, Clemson Relays and Father Kelly Classic.