CHARLESTON, S.C. – The College of Charleston women’s track and field program returns to action this weekend as the Cougars and The Citadel combine to co-host the 2010 Palmetto Classic on Friday, March 12. The meet will be held at Park West in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

Sophomore Emily Smith (Rock Hill, S.C.), freshman Jelain McArthur (Laurens, S.C.) and junior Brynne Johnson (Centreville, Ohio) headline a list of top performers as the Cougars kick off the outdoor season.

Smith is coming off of several impressive performances at the Virginia Tech Final Qualifier where she barely missed qualifying for NCAA competition. She reached a season-best height of 5’9 ¾ to earn fifth place at that competition following the Southern Conference Indoor Championships where she won her second straight high jump title and garnered All-Conference honors.

Several newcomers also posted top performances and were named to the league’s All-Freshman team. Chelsea Taylor (Seneca, S.C.) tied for fifth place in the pole vault with 3 ½ points and cleared a height of 11’1 ¾ while McArthur earned the honor in two different events. She placed fourth in the 60-meter hurdles and finished seventh in the triple jump with a total distance of 38’9 ¾. Casey McKee (Johnsonville, S.C.) was the third Cougar to earn All-Freshman honors as she set a new personal record in the weight throw with a distance of 41’8 ¾.

This talented group of underclassmen is joined by juniors Saskia Kalmeijer (Brussels, Belgium) and Mary Zolga (Raynham, Mass.) who ran the lead and anchor legs, respectively, of the 4x400 meter relay that earned CofC two points at the championships.

This weekend’s events will begin at 3 p.m. with the hammer throw and proceed through the track events beginning at 4 p.m. For a complete list of all events as well as additional meet information, please see the attached schedule and materials.