June 13, 2015

EUGENE, ORE. – The Carolina track and field team earned its second All-American in as many days on Friday, with sophomore Jussi Kanervo finishing sixth overall in the 400-meter hurdles. His efforts put the men on the board in the team scoring standings, and he becomes the eighth athlete in program history to earn All-America status in the event.

Despite nagging injuries that had hampered him all season long, Kanervo was fearless out of the blocks and sat in the middle of the field all race long. He would cross in a time of 50.20; Kansas senior Michael Stigler won the event in 48.84. Looking ahead to next season, Kanervo finished second overall among non-senior runners.

This is the second All-America honor for Kanervo this season, after he earned a spot on the second team for the 60mH indoors. The Gamecocks had not seen an athlete make the final podium in the 400mH since 2010, when Johnny Dutch won the national title.

QUOTABLE

South Carolina Head Coach Curtis Frye

On His First Words to Jussi After the Race
Under the conditions of his injury, three weeks of not being able to train, I told him it was a victory. I congratulated him for getting us on the board. Getting our guys on the board recently has been tough, and this sends a message to the kids that hey, hang on because we have a scorer coming back healthy next year to go along with a guy like Markus (Leemet), like (Ncincilili) Titi and David (Winters), getting Dondre (Echols) back. He said to me his goal next year is to stay healthy, because if he’s healthy he can win it all.

UP NEXT

Nationals will conclude tomorrow with perhaps the most-anticipated event of the week, the women’s high jump. Jeannelle Scheper aims for her first national championship, but faces a talented field that also includes her teammate Nakita Gray. Competition begins at 4:30 EST and will air on ESPN2 starting at 5 p.m.