May 10, 2008
Columbia, SC – South Carolina’s Johnny Dutch and Salli Gurganus both had break-out days, hitting personal bests, at the Carolina Classic in Chapel Hill, NC. The Gamecocks won 11 events and posting seven NCAA regional qualifying marks/times or improvements on the season. The team is gearing up for next week’s SEC Championships in Auburn, Ala.
“Johnny ran really well. It helped to be in front of his home crowd,” said USC head coach Curtis Frye. “We worked hard on our finals the last week and it was good to see so many of our kids come out and perform strong today. We will need it come next week at the SEC Championships.”
Dutch won the 400m hurdles with a lifetime best time of 49.78, bettering his own NCAA regional time. It’s the fourth-fastest time in school history, topping teammate Jason Richardson’s own mark from 2006 (49.82). Dutch later won the 110m hurdles with a lifetime best 13.85, bettering his own NCAA regional time.
Salli Gurganus was the runner-up in the pole vault, hitting a lifetime best of 13-1, also bettering her NCAA regional mark. Her mark is now second all-time in USC school history.
Johnathan Hancock won the 100m dash, bettering his NCAA regional time to 10.36. ON the women’s side, Shayla Mahan won the 100m at 11.49 and crossed the tape in front to win the 200m at 23.77.
Derron Flood was the runner-up in the 200m, picking up an NCAA regional time at 21.20.
Quinten Moore won the 400m with his first NCAA Regional time of 47.02. Brandi Cross won the 400m at 53.17, having posted a time of 53.02 earlier this season. Porche Bryd was third at 53.60.
“Quinten ran really well,” said Frye.
USC’s 4x100m relay won with a time of 40.69. The women won the same race with a tie of 45.02. Both have quicker NCAA regional times on the books this season.
Jason Cook won the shot put with a toss of 59′ 5 – bettering his own NCAA regional mark. Mike Zajec won the hammer at 189′ 3 and was the runner-up in the discus at 163 feet.
Brittney James was the runner-up in the long jump, hitting the pit at 19′ 8.
