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Men’s track strong in first part of the season Corey Taylor, Otukile Lekote leading the Gamecocks against top competition in the 2003 indoor schedule BY MATT ROTHENBERG THE GAMECOCK As the indoor track season comes to a close in the next few weeks and the outdoor season begins, the sights have been set very high for the men’s track team. Rebounding off a 9th place indoor finish and a 7th place outdoor finish in the SEC last year, the men have an opportunity to perform as well as they ever have done. The Gamecocks followed up their 2002 finishes in the SEC with 6th place outcomes in both the NCAA indoor and out door meets. Also penorming well at this point is Otukile Lekote, a native of Botswana, who continues to be the national force in the 800-meters. “Otukile is the national pow er; the standard is set by Otukile,” Frye said. “Is there anyone out there that can challenge Otukile and put him position of not being to defend his champi onship? I think there are quite a few.” Kenny Ferguson, a freshman, is also an up-and-comer on the men’s track team, according to Frye. He has “had one of the best times in the country in the hurdles, and should qual ify for the NCAAs.” % Frye praised the leadership of Otis Harris, a senior who has had several top 10 finish es in last year’s SEC champi onships and a leg of the na tional champion 4x400-meter relay team. “They have that kind of pride and desire,” Frye said of his sen ior class. “It’s not necessarily the seniors that make it hap pen. It’s how much their leadership can cause the other kids to make a com mitment to make sure they have that kind of senior year.” fPole-vauiter Chris Steddum was also one the persons who Frye said should be among the na tion’s top five this year. But Gamecock football fans will some familiar faces on the men’s track team, as well. Taylor, hurdler Deandre Eiland and pole vaulter Jared Farabee all spent considerable time under football head coach Lou Holtz in 2002. Playing football in the fall can help prepare one for track, Frye said. “A team sport always causes a person to lose their selfish attitude, and some times individual sports cause someone to think it’s all about me,” he said. “In track, you don’t think that. I think it’s part of those guys’ character, and it starts in H football and gets reinforced through track.” Frye thinks there’s a good possibility that m the men’s track team — both indoors and out ■ doors — can be one of the best in the country y this year. “On the conference level, I think that our chances are much more improved,” he said. “On the national level, I think our men have a shot to be in the top five indoors and right now, they’re sitting in the second place spot.” Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@hotmail.com PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK Otukile Lekote is USC’s, as well as the world’s, top runner in the 800-meter dash this year. Men’s tennis set for a promising new season BY NICK YOUNG THE GAMECOCK The USC men’s tennis team comes into this spring season with much anticipation and hope; the team was 16th in the latest rankings, and three Gamecocks were recognized in the individual rankings. Angelo Niculescu leads USC with a No. 44 national ranking, while Seth Rose comes out of the fall season ranked No. 69. Marcus Westman comes in at No. 93. “We have the majority of our top players coming back from last year and a good nucleus coming in,” head coach Kent DeMars said. Niculescu finished the 2002 season with a 24-12 singles record and will begin the season playing in the No. 2 spot. According to DeMars, he should be a big-time contributor. “He came in last season as a junior transfer with a lot of po tential,” DeMars said. “He has really improved a lot since com ing to USC. With his weapons, he should be successful playing high in the SEC.” Rose will be playing in the No. 1 singles position this year. DeMars thinks Rose has a lot of tools and is a threat to everyone he plays. “He’s a fighter on the court and is very solid from the base line,” DeMars said. “He never gives up, and we look for him to be our leader this year. ” The last of the nationally ranked Gamecocks is Westman. ♦ MEN’S TENNIS, SEE PAGE 6 Depth a strength for women’s tennis team BY NICK YOUNG THE GAMECOCK Last season, the USC women’s tennis team finished the year with a 17-8 record and placed fourth in the SEC. It also ended the year ranked 16th in the na tion, its best finish since 1999. This year, the team comes into the season ranked 19th in the NCAA by the Omni Hotels Collegiate Tennis Poll. Even though the team returns only two players from last year’s starting lineup, its depth and tremendous freshman class has allowed the team to stay at the top. Kathy Boyanovich is the lone Gamecock ranked in the singles poll. Boyanovich is ranked 93rd after ending last season ranked at 95th with a 17-7 record. Boyanovich is ranked with Jodi Kenoyer at 59th in the doubles poll. “She will have to continue playing well and playing consis tent as she has the past three sea sons,” head coach Arlo Elkins said. Carolina’s other returning starter is senior Kenoyer. Last season, Kenoyer thrived at all po sitions, compiling a record of 25 11. In doubles, Kenoyer played strictly at number two and-flour ished with a 28-9 record. Last year Ayako Suzuki played sparingly in singles but posted an impressive 4-1 record. This season, she will look to compete for a spot in the singles division. Her forte at Carolina has been her stellar doubles play, and she will play on the number two doubles team with freshman Danielle Wiggins. “She had an outstanding year in doubles last year with Katarina Markovski,” Elkins said of Suzuki. “She has always been an outstanding doubles player. We look for her to provide leadership for the team.” ♦ WOMEN’S TENNIS, SEE PAGE 7 Head track coach Curtis Frye is pleased with his squad’s per formance so far in the indoor meets. Among his athletes on the men’s side, he says that Corey Taylor has impressed him the most of yet. Taylor is a two-time All American, earning the honors last year in the indoor 60 meter hurdles and , as a member of J the outdoor 4x100- I meter relay team. I He is currently \ the nation’s top ranked hurdler in the 60-meters.