South Carolina Gamecocks

blank

Kemesha Whitmire

Class: Senior Hometown: Spartanburg, S.C. High School: Spartanburg

Height: 5-5 Event: Jumps Birthdate: 10/26/1984 Major: Business Management and Marketing

One of the top returning horizontal jumpers who returns for her senior season... expected to challenge for a spot on the medals stand at both the conference and national meets in the long and triple jumps... considered one of the top jumpers in school history.

2005: Competed primarily in the long and triple jumps during both the indoor and outdoor seasons... finished second in the triple jump at the Virginia Tech Invitational with a jump of 12.36 meters... posted a career-best indoor triple jump with a 12.42-meter leap at the Meet of Champions... twice went 6.10 meters in the long jump, first at Virginia Tech, then again at the Tyson Invitational... finished seventh in the SEC Indoor Championships in both events, going 5.96 meters in the long jump and 12.26 meters in the triple... competed at the Last Chance Meet in the long jump and turned in a leap of 6.16 meters... posted her outdoor career-best in the long jump at the Orange & Purple Classic when she went 6.32 meters (20-9.00)... was the SEC outdoor champion in the triple jump, soaring a career best 13.28 meters (43-7.00)... also placed fourth in the long jump competition at the conference meet with a best effort of 6.29 meters... placed 12th and 18th respectively in the long and triple jump at the NCAA East Regional.

2004: Competed primarily in the long and triple jumps during the indoor season... took first place in the triple jump at the SEC Invitational... finished second in the long jump and fourth in the triple jump at the Meet of Champions in New York... added the 100-meter dash to the horizontal jumps during the outdoor season... earned a runner-up finish at the SC State Championship in the long jump... placed sixth in the long jump and sixth in the triple jump at the SEC Championships... placed sixth in the long jump and ninth in the triple jump at the NCAA East Regional meet, qualifying for the NCAA meet in the long jump... finished ninth in the long jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, earning an All-America certificate.

2003: Made collegiate debut with fifth-place finish in the triple jump at George Mason Early Invitational... finished third in the long jump and 10th in the triple jump at the Meet of Champions... won the 400 meters with a time of 59.42 at the USC Invitational... finished fifth in the long jump and eighth in the triple jump at the SEC Indoor Championships... finished fourth in the long jump and was the runner-up in the triple jump at the Weems Baskin Relays to open the outdoor season... was the runner-up in the long jump at the Sea Ray Relays with a season best jump of 20-7... finished fifth in the long jump and 12th in the triple jump at the Penn Relays... placed second in the long jump and third in the triple jump at the Orange & Purple Classic... finished 14th in the long jump and ninth in the triple jump at the SEC Championships... finished ninth in the long jump and 19th in the triple jump at the NCAA East Regional... placed third in the women's long jump with a mark of 19-11.50 at the U.S. Junior Outdoor Championships and was first alternate for Team USA's Junior Pan American squad.

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Spartanburg (S.C.) High School in 2002... coached by Glover Smiley and Shay Rice... named Prep All-American in 2000 and 2002, winning the National Championship in the long jump in 2000 and 2002... named all-state in 2001 and 2002 and was all-region and all-county from 1998-2002... finished in sixth place at the World Junior Olympics in Hungary... high school team won the state title in track three years in a row (2000-2002)... at the Junior Nationals, finished second in 2001 and third in 2002 in the long jump... also lettered in volleyball and soccer.

PERSONAL: Kemesha C. Whitmire was born October 26, 1984 in Spartanburg, S.C... parents are Sherrell Whitmire and Curtis Whitmire... pursuing a degree in business management and marketing... also considered Clemson, Maryland, Georgia, Florida and Kansas before choosing Carolina.