Awotunde Takes Bronze On Day One Of NCAA Indoor Championships
March 10, 2018
Indoor Meet #8 — NCAA Indoor Championships
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – South Carolina senior standout Josh Awotunde took third place in the men’s shot put on day one of the 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships Friday night at Gilliam Indoor Stadium.
Awotunde’s performance earned him first-team All-America honors for Carolina, which finished the night in a tie for 11th on the men’s side courtesy of the Franklinville, N.J., native’s six points.
Awotunde, the 2018 SEC Shot Put Champion, boasted a mark of 20.15m in his final indoor appearance. His third-place showing was the program’s second-highest finish in shot put at the NCAA Championships.
Junior Rougui Sow marked the second Gamecock to garner first-team All-America laurels and earn points Friday after placing eighth in the women’s long jump with a distance of 6.25m. Her efforts earned the Gamecock women one point for the night.
Carolina senior Ncincilili Titi also secured first-team All-America laurels on day one, advancing to the finals of the 200m. He turned in a time of 20.77 seconds on his run and clinched a top-eight finish after placing seventh. The finals of the 200m are set for Saturday at 5:50 p.m. CT.
Gamecocks Jordan Fields and Lissa Labiche were tabbed second-team All-Americans Friday in the women’s high jump event. Fields narrowly missed a spot on the All-America First Team, finishing ninth with a mark of 1.81m. She cleared 1.81m on her final attempt before falling just short on her third jump with the bar set at 1.84m.
Labiche, one of three Gamecocks to garner their first career All-America honors Friday, settled for 14th place in the high jump after clearing 1.76m.
Carolina senior Yann Randrianasolo marked the final Gamecock in action on day one, as he competed in the men’s long jump. The Toulouse, France, native took home second-team All-America honors after placing 14th with a distance of 7.21m.
Virginia Tech sits in first place on the men’s side through one day of action with 16 points, while Georgia is in front on the women’s side with 33 points.
NOTABLE
• Carolina senior Josh Awotunde earned first-team All-America honors in the men’s shot put for the second-straight year. He placed fifth at the event in 2017.
• Junior Rougui Sow has collected first-team All-America laurels in the women’s long jump in each of her first two seasons with the Gamecocks.
• Gamecock senior Ncincilili Titi will compete in the national finals of the 200m for the second-consecutive year. He finished eighth in the event one year ago.
• Gamecocks Jordan Fields (high jump), Lissa Labiche (high jump) and Yan Randrianasolo (long jump) each earned their first career All-America accolades Friday.
FROM THE COACH
“Our kids did a good job of fighting hard. (Josh) Awotunde had a good meet. He wanted to be the champion, but he ended up being third with a better throw than he had last year. He’s had a great season, and we’re excited about having six points on the board after the first day.” – Head Coach Curtis Frye
UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS
The 2018 NCAA Championships conclude Saturday in College Station. Hanifah Abdulqadir competes in the women’s triple jump at 3:30 p.m. CT, and Titi will run for a national title in the 200m at 5:50 p.m. CT. Live streaming is available on ESPN3.
| FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018 •NCAA INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS • MEN’S RESULTS | ||
| Long Jump | ||
| 14. Yann Randrianasolo | 7.21m | 23-8 | |
| 200m Prelims | ||
| 7. Ncincilili Titi | 20.77 | |
| Shot Put | ||
| 3. Josh Awotunde | 20.15m | 66-1 1/2 | |
| FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018 • NCAA INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS • WOMEN’S RESULTS | ||
| High Jump | ||
| 14. Lissa Labiche | 1.76m | 5-9 1/4 | |
| 9. Jordan Fields | 1.81m | 5-11 1/4 | |
| Long Jump | ||
| 8. Rougui Sow | 6.25m | 20-6 1/4 | |
