June 9, 2009

NCAA Outdoor Championships | Wed.-Sat., June 10-13

Championship Central | Live Results | Meet Notes

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (Men-#6) travels to the NCAA Outdoor Championships June 10-13 at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Ark., with the SEC’s fifth-largest contingent as the team earned 17 entries – 11 for the men and six for the women. The finals will be broadcast live on CBS Friday from 7-1 p.m. and Saturday from 1-3 p.m.

The NCAA Championships begin at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday and continue at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, 4 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday. Check the “Championship Central” link above for live webcast.

The sixth-ranked men’s team earned 11 bids in nine events, more than double the five bids that the men’s team earned in 2008. Six individuals and both relays were automatic qualifiers after posting top five finishes at the East Region Championships, and three individuals earned at-large entries due to their top performances throughout the season. Senior Jason Richardson will look to repeat as champion in the 110m hurdles while sophomore Johnny Dutch will attempt a hat trick in the 400m hurdles after winning the SEC and NCAA East Region championships.

The women’s team earned six bids in five events, matching the total number of bids earned in 2008. Four individuals and both relays earned automatic bids due to their performances in Greensboro. Included is senior pole vaulter Liza Todd, who along with men’s vaulters Elliott Haynie and Marvin Reitze helps the Gamecocks set a new program best with three pole vaulters heading to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in pole vault coach Lawrence Johnson’s first full year in the program.