Favors Punches Ticket to NCAA Championships on Day 1 of Regionals

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina track and field team saw Eric Favors qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships while four additional individuals advanced to Friday’s competition in Jacksonville, Fla., at the NCAA East Regionals. 

Favors used a shot put mark of 19.06m (62-6 1/2) to advance to his second NCAA Outdoor Championships, taking seventh overall in the event to advance to Eugene, Ore., next month. In the preliminary rounds Favors was limited to just three throws in the attempt to qualify, Favors tossed an opening mark of 18.81m before tossing his 19.06m in his second mark to cement himself in the top 12 needed to advance. 

QUICK thoughts from the now two-time outdoor nationals qualifier @FricEavors after he punched his ticket to Eugene! #ncaaTF | #Gamecocks pic.twitter.com/fuPgGzRuUM

— Gamecock Track & XC (@GamecockTrack) May 26, 2021

Outdoor freshman Filip Demsar was the first to advance himself to Friday’s quarterfinal competition in the 110m hurdles, using a time of 13.88 to advance as one of the six times based off time. Demsar will compete again at 6:45 p.m. on Friday night in lane nine of the third heat. 

Just over an hour later it was William Spencer Jr., and EJ Richardson who advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals in the 400m hurdles. Spencer Jr., running out of lane two, posted the second-best time of the competition at 50.48 to win his heat and automatically qualify. Richardson competed later and used a personal record of 51.52 to finish 20th overall and advance based off time. Richardson will be in lane two on Friday while Spencer Jr. will be in lane six with both competing in the third heat. 

Another quick interview with one of our top performers today, William Spencer Jr.!

The outdoor rookie left Wednesday with the second-best 400m hurdles time in the region at 50.48 pic.twitter.com/dQvljrdS1E

— Gamecock Track & XC (@GamecockTrack) May 27, 2021

Just minutes later Evan Miller added his name to the list of Gamecocks that will compete on Friday in the 200m. Miller finished third in his heat in a time of 20.72 to automatically qualify for the NCAA quarterfinals. Miller, who finished 11th overall on Wednesday, will be in lane four in the first of three heats. 

Additionally, the Gamecocks saw Dillon McCarthy finish 25th overall in the men’s pole vault competition. McCarthy posted a personal record of 5.15m (16-10 3/4) to end his season on a high note as a true freshman. Jackson Junkins made his NCAA East Regional debut in the 400m, finishing 28th overall in a time of 46.86. 

The women will begin their NCAA East Regional journeys on Thursday, with competition starting at 1:30 p.m. The Gamecocks first competitor will be Hailey Sweatman in the women’s pole vault which gets started at 3 p.m. ET. 

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ALL ESTIMATED START TIMES ARE IN EASTERN TIME: