Carolina Women Advance All Four of Thursday's Entries to Final Races
The South Carolina women's track and field team put together an excellent first day of competition at the NCAA Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field on Thursday.
EUGENE, Ore.—The South Carolina women’s track and field team put together an excellent first day of competition at the NCAA Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field on Thursday.
All four of South Carolina’s entries on Thursday advanced to the final race of the season. That brings the total of Gamecock women in NCAA finals to five with Rachel Glenn joining the group in the high jump.
“The whole object of the game is to survive the rounds and get to the finals,” said head coach Curtis Frye. “Then after that, it’s about conquering.”
The women’s 4X100-meter relay kicked off the day with their best time of the season, running a time of 43.21 to earn a time qualifier to Saturday’s final. The squad of Jayla Jamison, Makenzie Dunmore, Angel Frank and Tierra Frasier ran the season-best and No. 5 time in school history to advance to the final race.
Destinee Rocker qualified for her first career NCAA final in the women’s 100-meter hurdles. Rocker ran a personal best time of 12.95 to finish ninth overall and earn the last time qualifier to Saturday’s final race. Rocker’s time also moves her into No. 3 in school history in the high hurdles.
“Destinee couldn’t be more deserving,” Frye said. “She’s a person that works hard and made a commitment. She followed the process.”
Dunmore had a busy day on the track. She followed her leg on the 4X100-meter relay with the 400 meters’ semifinals. She qualified with a time of 51.62 and earned an automatic bid to the final, taking second in her heat. Dunmore’s time in the 400 meters puts her at No. 10 in school history. Dunmore then helped the women’s 4X400-meter relay team to advance.
“That just speaks to Makenzie,” Frye said. “That’s what you expect from a World class athlete. Makenzie is a high-level athlete. Nothing unusual for what I expect from her.”
Stephanie Davis led off for the women’s 4X400-meter relay team, which qualified for the NCAA final on Saturday. Davis, Dunmore, Frank and Jahnile Registre took second in their heat to earn an automatic bid to the final race of the season. The quartet ran a time of 3:31.80, which was the 10th-fastest of the night.
The Gamecocks return to action at 8:30 p.m. on Friday with Jackson Marseille in the men’s high jump. Marseille is the lone male Gamecock left to compete in Eugene.
Women’s Individual Results
400 Meters – Semifinals
11. Makenzie Dunmore – 51.62Q
100-Meter Hurdles – Semifinals
9. Destinee Rocker – 12.95q
4X100-Meter Relay – Semifinals
7. Jamison, Dunmore, Frank, Frasier – 43.21q
4X400-Meter Relay – Semifinals
10. Davis, Dunmore, Frank, Registre – 3:31.80Q
